Sandwell Partnership has got together with a range of our partners (including Connexions, West Midlands Fire Service, Business In The Community, the Shaw Trust, West Bromwich YMCA, Sandwell Homes, the Hadley Group) – to respond to the Backing Young Britain challenge.

Some of the key players in the Sandwell business community have already come forward offering apprenticeship and work placement opportunities and now we’re launching the Backing Young Sandwell campaign with the aim of creating 1000 apprenticeships and 500 work placements for young people in Sandwell who are aged between 16 – 24 years old and are currently unemployed.

As Stewart Towe, Managing Director of the Hadley Group puts it:

“The harsh reality is that in Sandwell we are facing a 33% unemployment rate, amongst our young people.  There are many people who are young and gifted but unemployed in Sandwell.  I’m asking everyone who thinks that’s unacceptable to join the Backing Young Sandwell campaign.”

“We want to put something back into Sandwell and I believe there are many other successful employers – across all sectors – who share our determination to help our young people take that first step into work and hopefully into careers that give them a great future.”

The Backing Young Sandwell campaign will launch with a business breakfast in March and be followed up with the launch of a youth focused website that will be the place for 16 to 24 year olds to register for apprenticeships and work placements.

For more information on how you and your organisation can join us in Backing Young Sandwell, please download the leaflet or email sandwell_partnership@sandwell.gov.uk for more information.

Download information for employers here

UPDATE 2nd March 2010

The response to our Business Breakfast for Sandwell employers on 17th March has been good so far - thanks to everyone who’s already agreed to come - but it’s not too late to book your place at the official launch of Backing Young Sandwell, which will be at the Public in West Bromwich. 

If you are an employer, in the public or private sector, and want to know how you can be part of Backing Young Sandwell email us at sandwell_partnership@sandwell.gov.uk for an invitation to our Business Breakfast launch event.

Backing Young Sandwell is our local response to the national Backing Young Britain campaign.  Click here for information about Backing Young Britain.