A Midlands-wide initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment has seen care experienced young adults gain valuable insight into the world of work — with Birmingham Airport playing a leading role.
As part of a specialised programme led by the West Midlands Employer Alliance, the airport hosted six care leavers aged 18 to 25 for a two-week placement designed to support their transition into employment. The scheme, which saw over 20 care experienced young people placed at seven major organisations across the region — including Kier Construction, Severn Trent, and The NEC Group — aims to address the significant employment barriers faced by young adults leaving the care system.
Research shows that care leavers are four times more likely to be not in education, employment or training (NEET)than their peers, with 86% of young people who do not participate in meaningful work experience at risk of falling into this category.
In response, Birmingham Airport created a tailored programme of professional workshops and departmental shadowing to help participants gain transferable skills and explore potential career paths in the aviation sector. Highlights included a tour of an Airbus A-380, a CV writing session, and time with the Air Traffic Control team.
The placement has already shown tangible results. One participant has now secured a permanent role in the airport’s Customer Experience team, while others were given opportunities to explore apprenticeships aligned with their interests.
Reflecting on his experience, participant Marcus Rees said:
“I found my placement at Birmingham Airport incredibly rewarding and very productive. After several bad experiences in previous jobs, I was pleased to spend time in such a supportive and welcoming workplace environment. I’m excited to see what the future holds, and I look forward to continuing to develop with the support of my mentor.”
The placements concluded with a celebratory ceremony at the airport’s on-site Learning Hub, attended by representatives from participating employers, including E.ON, Dodds Group, and Novotel. All participants will now be supported by a professional mentor for 12 months to help guide their next steps into training, education or work.
Antoinette Farrell-Jones, Director of People at Birmingham Airport, said:
“As a key employer of the Midlands, we’re committed to providing opportunities for our local communities and that includes playing our part in bridging the employment gap for our region’s young people.
“We recognise that young care experienced adults face unique barriers to employment, and we also acknowledge the inherent value of early meaningful workplace experiences, which can help shape fruitful careers.
“It was an absolute pleasure to witness first-hand the personal growth and development of our cohort across the two weeks. We thank all our partners at the West Midlands Employer Alliance for their assistance with this incredible initiative.”
The West Midlands Employer Alliance continues to work with businesses and local authorities across the region to develop more inclusive work experience and job opportunities for care experienced young people.