Employer opportunities

While businesses can find support such as grants from this page, some of our projects can help employers with shaping the future workforce and fulfilling Corporate Social Responsibility.

Whilst you can find information and support like grants from here, we also have opportunities for you to actively contribute to skills development and wider Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Email the Employer Engagement Team to find out more

 

Solihull's Youth Trailblazer 

Solihull's Youth Trailblazer offers a financial contribution to employers in return for providing work placements or employment opportunities to local young people. We will match your opportunities with young people aged 18-21 based on the skills needs of your business. Up to £5,000 is available for a paid role at or above national living wage, or £1,500 for a work experience placement. We will support you throughout the placement.​

​​Email us or refer to this eflyer to find out more.​

Frequently asked questions about Youth Trailblazer

Eligibility

Q: Can I take on someone that I know? 

All young people benefitting from the opportunities must be registered with and receiving support from Solihull Council’s Employment and Skills Team (EST). Suitable candidates will then be shared with you to consider / interview.  A connection with a suitable candidate would not preclude them from the opportunity.

 

Q:  Do the young people have to be aged 18-21? 

Yes, they must be 18-21 when they sign up for the programme.

 

Q: What is required of the employer? 

To provide meaningful and appropriate tasks for the young person and engage with them throughout the placement. A Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Solihull Council which outlines all expectations will be provided before a commitment is made.

 

Q: Do I need to prepare anything for work experience? 

It would be helpful for employers to create a work plan and prepare an induction pack / session for the young person to introduce them to the workplace, same as any new employee. 

 

Q: For paid placements, what are the annual leave, sick leave or holiday entitlement?

It will align with your employee terms and conditions.

Process

Q: Do I have to do the interview and vetting? 

Solihull Council’s Employment and Skills Team will present you a shortlist of suitable candidates. You can assess the candidates in the way that is the most appropriate. It can be an interview, a trial shift or a taster session. 

 

Q: Is there any additional support for the employees? 

There is additional support available through various schemes, we will make young people and employers aware of this, dependent on the role and the young person’s circumstances. 

 

Q: What support can I get? 

You will receive in work support from a member of the Employment and Skills team. This will include workplace visits and contact by phone / email to ensure the placement is working well for both the employer and the candidate.

 

Q: Who do I contact if I have any issues or questions? 

Our Project Officer will be available to talk about any issues you may have at any stage of the Youth Trailblazer, while our Employment Advisor will be the point of contact for the young person. 

Financial contribution

Q: What is the schedule and method of payment process? 

There will be three stages for payment - onboarding, midway through the placement, and upon completion. It must be paid to an appropriate business account over bank transfer. Further detail will be included in the SLA.

 

Q: Does the placement have to be full-time?

Weekly hours are to be determined to suit the young person and the employer. For unpaid work experience, it will be 40-100 hours over a minimum of 3 weeks. For paid roles, it will be 12 weeks minimum at or above National Living Wage. £5,000 is for a full-time paid role. If it is a part-time or shared job, it will be pro-rata.

 

Q: How long do we have to keep the young person on?

The placement will have to last for 12 weeks. This can be full or part time. Ideally, the paid role can turn into a permanent position after the 12 weeks. If it ends before 12 weeks, the payment will be pro-rata.

 

Q: If someone does work experience first then becomes an employee, how much can I get? 

One financial contribution will be paid per young person, however there is potential to convert the £1,500 financial contribution into the £5,000 financial contribution if it turns into a full-time job. The maximum financial contribution for every young person will be £5,000.  Ideally, the paid role can turn into a permanent position after the 12 weeks.

 

Q: What happens if the young person leaves, do I need to return the funds? 

You can still get the onboarding incentive and any other staged payments that have been made.

 

Q: What do I have to do to receive the financial contribution? 

You will need to offer an unpaid work placement with 40- 100 hours, or a paid 12-week placement to be eligible. You will provide meaningful and appropriate tasks for the candidates and engage with them throughout the placement, meeting requirements as set out in the Service Level Agreement with Solihull Council. 

Ideally, the paid role can turn into a permanent position after the 12 weeks.

Solihull Careers Hub

Enterprise Advisers

Enterprise Advisers (EA’s) are volunteers that work directly with Careers Leaders and Senior Leadership of schools and colleges to develop careers programmes.

EA’s utilise their business experience and professional networks to ensure the careers strategy is effective and puts opportunities with local employers at the heart of a young person’s education. EA’s help schools and colleges to identify their priorities, focus their efforts and allows them to expand their employer network.

Do you want to join our team of EAs? Email us to find out more.

Cornerstone Employers

Cornerstone Employers provide strategic support to the Hub and the schools and colleges, investing time and resource to benefit young people.  Working with other Cornerstone Employers, they share best practice and collaborate to meet the need of the schools and colleges.

Do you want to become a Cornerstone Employer? Email us or refer to this page to find out more.

Work Experience 

In May 2025, the Government’s Work Experience Guarantee set out the ambition that every young person should access two weeks’ worth of high-quality, multiple workplace experiences.

By offering work experience, you can play a vital role in influencing your future workforce, preparing the next generation for the world of work and making a positive impact in the community.

Benefits for businesses:

  • Recruitment Opportunities: Spot future talent early by introducing your industry to them from as early as Year 7
  • Staff Development: Development opportunities for staff through delivering effective programmes while mentoring young people
  • Improve Staff Engagement: Boost staff morale through interacting with young people and exploring new ideas
  • Community Involvement: Strengthen relationships with local schools and colleges, as well as young customers
  • Economic Contribution: Help develop a skilled local workforce.

Why Work Experience Matters

Work experience gives young people the opportunity to see the world of work for the very first time. It builds their confidence and valuable skills for your industry. It’s often the first thing they put on a CV. It’s also the experience that helps with their decision making for starting their careers.

Work experience can take many forms, including:

  • Hybrid, in-person or virtual
  • Work shadowing
  • 1–2-week placements
  • In-school activities
  • Project work

By working with a school, college, or other provider, your business can design a placement that is meaningful for both the student and your organisation.

If you are keen to find out more, fill out this form to get in touch with our Careers Hub.

Project Ideas & Focus Areas for Employers

Whether you’re new to hosting students or looking to refresh your work experience offer, here are some ways you can get involved:

  • Sector Projects: Run short, immersive projects for small student groups that is tailored to your sector to give students a realistic view of your industry.

  • Linking Up - Team up with other local employers or partners you already work with to create meaningful work experience opportunities together

  • Problem-Based Work Experience: Present students with a real, current challenge your business is facing and guide them through a journey to explore solutions

  • Careers Safari Day: Join other local employers at an institution to deliver interactive workshops on essential work skills, day-to-day job roles, and career pathways as a one-day event

  • Support Disadvantaged Learners: Offer phased exposure and mentoring to students who may need extra support.

  • Early Engagement: Host engaging workshops, taster sessions, or short activities that inspire younger students, spark their curiosity such as “have-a-go” sessions where students try hands-on tasks related to your industry 

  • Host inspiring online webinars for Years 7–9: Introduce exciting career pathways and include interactive elements such as Q&A sessions or challenges to help students about their futures in your industry from an early stage.

Introducing your business to schools 

You can start connecting with young people through delivering careers talks, supporting careers fairs, mock interviews or CV reviews. This will help them get a better understanding of your company and inspire them to work in your sector. Explore the various ways to engage with education. 

Engagement opportunities 

You can educate and inspire your future workforce in the borough through hosting site tours, workshops on employability skills and skills development and facilitating interactions between teachers or young people with industry professionals.  

Have a look at the different levels of engagement with schools from this flyer.  

You may also have a look at employer standards from the Careers & Enterprise Company. 

Do you want to know how you are doing in terms of engagement with schools? Take a free assessment to find out more.

School partnership 

By committing to work with a school collaboratively, you can achieve mutual goals for your business and the partnering school. Not only can you contribute to the careers education provision at school, but also better understand the younger generation through interactions and conversations. 

Access to training to transform your workforce 

To help employers and schools to develop their skills to future-proof their workforce, Solihull Careers Hub can refer or signpost professionals to training including Continuing professional development (CPD) courses.