Over 5,000 youth training placements created across the West Midlands, Mayor says

The claim comes after the announcement of a plan in July in an attempt to tackle the region's high youth unemployment, which is running at twice the national average according to UK Government statistics.

The youth plan focuses on pre-employment training in the region’s fastest growing sectors, fully-funded training up to level 3 (A-level equivalent) and access to a range of support services including debt and careers advice.

Up to 20,000 work experience placements, training opportunities and apprenticeships are set to be created by the scheme, with around 5,300 already in place according to the Mayor's office.

"Since I was voted in as Mayor, we’ve upskilled over 40,000 people in our region. This is helping to build the skilled workforce our industries need to grow and thrive," said West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker.

"Thousands of these are young people that are out of work or possibly looking for their first job, so this investment is another step toward reducing youth unemployment.

"I'm committed to giving every young person the best possible start in life by giving them the skills they need to succeed. This a key priority for me as Mayor and a central tenant of my youth plan."

The youth training plan forms part of a training policy which the Mayor claims has provided training and upskilling for around 43,000 people over the past eight months.

The training is designed to equip people with the skills needed for emerging high-tech sectors such as digital, data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), while supporting the transition to a greener economy through expertise in electrification and retrofitting.

At the same time, it addresses critical skills shortages in essential industries like construction, health and social care, and logistics, ensuring a balanced approach to workforce development across both innovative and everyday sectors.