Young people need to be 'excited' by job opportunities again, the region's mayor has said - as he launched a scheme to help 1,000 unemployed young people into work.

The 'Aspirations for All' programme will see the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) team up with charity Movement to Work to offer young people work placements in a bid to cut youth unemployment.

The placements will be offered by a range of top employers including the British Army, BT, BUPA, Diageo and Marks & Spencer, while the WMCA is also encouraging other employers from the region to sign up.

In the West Midlands 13.1 per cent (14,000) of young people are currently unemployed, with the figure stagnating since Andy Street became mayor in 2017.

Speaking at Tuesday's launch, he said that he hopes the range of companies taking part in the initiative will mean that there's an 'exciting' opportunity for every young person.

Mayor Andy Street at the launch with recent graduate Jawad Bashir
Mayor Andy Street at the launch with recent graduate Jawad Bashir

"So we've got all sorts of different areas of work coming together to offer 1,000 opportunities, and it’s particularly directed to give those young unemployed people their first sort of opportunity to get experience, from which hopefully they can move into a sustained job," he said.

"This is about saying ‘here is a real positive opportunity', perhaps something that just inspires people. Because when you talk to young people it’s about wanting to be excited by an opportunity. Hence this range of opportunities, hopefully to get people excited, and there’s a commitment at the end for an interview, which can hopefully then move you into a permanent role.

"I’m confident because we’ve seen this work in other ways. It’s not an original idea, work experience, and we hear from youngsters that when they actually go into the world of work they get excited by it, but when you’re talking about it sitting in a school or college, it can seem a bit distant. So that general idea of exciting people, inspiring people, finding something that switches them on. I think that’s what should give us confidence.

"So if a youngster is interested in this then they can either talk to their work coach or progression coach at the local job centre, or you can go on the WMCA website, and all the details are there under the ‘movement to work’."

Also present at today's launch was 24-year-old Small Heath resident Jawad Bashir, who was offered a placement at Barclays by Movement to Work after struggling to find a job following his graduation from university.

He says that the scheme has acted as a 'catalyst' for his career, playing a major role in securing him a place on the upcoming BT graduate scheme.

"This programme has really kick-started my career," he said.

"When I first graduated from Aston university last summer, I did a degree in chemical engineering, and got a 2:1, but I didn’t have the relevant experience to go where I wanted to go.

"Employers wanted to give me experience, but they wanted me to already have experience, so I was stuck in a cycle.

"So I stumbled across the programme, applied for it, and luckily got in. And since then it’s just been a catalyst for my career. I’m in full time employment now as a quality analyst, and in September I’m starting on the BT grad scheme as well.

"On the scheme you’re put into a professional environment, you’re given responsibility and you’re given the belief that you are good enough to work there, while also getting the experience you need.

"If you're is stuck in the same cycle, and you need work experience to help start your career, then you should definitely apply for this programme. There are lots of different types of company involved, too, so there should be something for everyone."