Birmingham and Solihull residents aged between 18-21 years old who have been on Universal Credit and unemployed for 18 months or more are set to be offered paid work placements through the launch of a new pilot programme.
The Jobs Guarantee programme is being delivered in Birmingham and Solihull by Catch22 following selection by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with the aim of helping young people currently out of work into sustainable employment. The West Midlands is one of five pilot sites, with the scheme also being rolled out across East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Essex, South West and South East Wales, and Central and East Scotland.
In the West Midlands pilot, Catch22 will support 275 young people into fully subsidised six-month work placements with local employers. Working closely with Jobcentre Plus, young people will be referred directly into the programme and supported into employment opportunities that build skills, confidence and long-term prospects.
Once enrolled in the programme, Catch22 will provide one-to-one employment support to every young person it places, in line with our commitment to helping people sustain in good jobs, not just any job.
Through the programme, young people will receive two weeks of intensive pre-placement support, followed by ongoing in-work wraparound from a dedicated Career Coach. They can also access a £300 bursary, and specialist mental health support to help them to sustain in work.
For employers, Jobs Guarantee: West Midlands offers a straightforward route to filling vacancies, with funded roles within scheme limits and support from Catch22 and partners to guide employers through the process.
Catch22 will deliver the pilot in partnership with Supplytrain CIC, who bring extensive experience of employer engagement from the Kickstart programme, and West Midlands employment charity Sport 4 Life, strengthening local delivery and routes into work.
Catch22 Strategic Director for Employability and Skills, Victoria Head said:
“Too many young people are facing long-term unemployment in the current job market, and the longer that gap lasts the harder it becomes to get a foot in the door.
“The Jobs Guarantee programme combines real, paid opportunities with the right wraparound support for each young person, helping them to build the confidence, skills and experience that employers value.
“We’re proud to be delivering the Birmingham and Solihull pilot with our partners, in collaboration with Jobcentre Plus, and are looking forward to working with local employers to open up high-quality placements that lead to sustained jobs.”
Phil Golding, Managing Director of Supplytrain CIC said:
“We’re delighted to be partnering with Catch22 on the Jobs Guarantee pilot in Birmingham and Solihull, to help turn these placements into genuine stepping stones toward lasting employment.
“This scheme is about changing how young people who’ve been out of work reconnect with opportunity and, by working closely with employers, we can remove barriers on both sides.
“We’re giving businesses the confidence to offer meaningful roles while providing young people with the backing they need to succeed from day one.”
Nick Cheese, Operations Manager at Sport 4 Life UK, added:
“We are proud to partner with Catch22 as part of the Youth Guarantee. With the youth claimant rate in Birmingham currently at double of the UK national average, it is more crucial than ever that all organisations have a responsibility to work together to tackle this growing issue.
“We are committed to creating a powerful support system for young people in Birmingham and Solihull to ensure that those that are furthest from the job market don’t just find a job, but gain the skills and resilience needed to build a sustainable career.”
Jobcentre Plus referrals will open shortly, with work beginning with employers across the region to source high-quality paid placements immediately.
Further information on the programme, including how to express interest in employing a young person through the Jobs Guarantee: West Midlands programme, can be found on the pilot’s website. Young person referrals can be made through Jobcentre Plus.