When you host a placement through Jobs Guarantee: West Midlands, you receive support at every stage. We help you fill entry-level roles with brilliant, motivated young people, reduce the financial risk of hiring, and make the process straightforward from first conversation to placement start.
We work across all sectors and industries, with placements spanning from administration and customer service, to sports, hospitality, and information technology.
You start by providing a genuine role within your business for at least 25 hours a week, which the scheme funds to National Minimum Wage, with up to £250, exclusive of VAT, available towards eligible set-up costs.
We then guide you through the scheme, support you to get vacancies ready for approval, and help with recruitment and onboarding where relevant.
Once your vacancy is live, we help you to get ready for the reality of the placement. Our support is tailored to the role and working environment you are offering, including setting expectations, thinking through supervision, and preparing the young person so they arrive ready to make a strong start.
Our programme is designed to help the placement work well for both you and the young person, so we stay involved throughout the whole six months. Young people receive ongoing in-work wraparound support from a dedicated Career Coach, and you have a clear point of contact throughout the placement.
We provide regular check-ins and practical support to the young person to help address issues early and reduce disruption. This might include support around attendance, communication, confidence, practical barriers, changing personal circumstances, or wider issues outside work that may be affecting the placement.
We also work with you to support retention, help the young person settle into the workplace, and make the placement as successful as possible.
Finally, we help you plan for what comes next.
Whether there is an opportunity for the young person to progress within your business, or we are supporting them to look for their next opportunity within our network of partners, we are here to support you and create lasting outcomes for your business and your community.
If you are an employer in Birmingham or Solihull with a vacancy to fill, please register your interest and a member of our team will get back to you at the earliest opportunity.
If you are a young person looking to take part, please speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach who will be able to discuss eligibility and next steps.