New hub aims to get young people into work
BBCA new Careers and Skills Hub has opened in Wolverhampton to help more young people into work.
It comes as new government data has shown that more than 2,500 youngsters aged 18 to 24 years old in the city are claiming out-of-work benefits, with the youth unemployment rate almost twice the national average.
Hosted at the City Learning Quarter Campus on St George's Parade, it is hoped it will become a one-stop shop for residents to find out about job opportunities, training courses and preparation for work programmes.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Labour Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden told the BBC that the hub could be a model for supporting young people nationally.
He added: "The government is spending £2.5bn on youth guarantee opportunities in work experience, hiring incentives for employers, paid wage subsidy for long term young unemployed people.
"That will go so far, but we can really multiply the effect of that if we can get employers to sign up to this too."
Nineteen-year-old Ben Campbell grew up in the city and studied at Bilston College, but says he spent months searching for a job after suffering from continuous knockbacks.
At the launch of the new hub, he told the BBC that he has now found work and is training as an administrative officer.
Campbell said: "Experience is a really big thing but it's really hard to find experience.
"There have been times that I've emailed companies saying I will work for free [to gain] experience and they have turned me down."
The new careers and skills hub, the first of its kind in the city, will offer help and advice on producing a CV, searching, and applying for jobs and preparing for an interview.
Lorna Prosser from City of Wolverhampton College added: "Thus far, we've recorded over 100 young people securing employment. We've also had several young people go on to do work experience opportunities and work experience is a growing area."
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