Support for residents

The Employment and Skills Team offer the following support to Solihull residents who are not currently in employment:

• Guide you with job search and application
• Improve your essential skills such as numeracy, literacy and digital skills through training to increase your chances of gaining employment
• Offer wellbeing support to increase your confidence and to help breakdown any barriers to employment you may have
• Improve your interviewing skills through mock interviews and training

The Specialist and Targeted team were established to provide advice and support, to Solihull residents with additional needs, who may be looking to access employment or training opportunities. Our support includes:

• Help to overcome barriers to job search, interacting with employers, colleges or learning providers
• Move you closer to achieving your careers aspirations through activities and development opportunities
• Boost your levels of confidence and wellbeing

Skills for Success supports young people in school years 11 - 13 to understand careers and learning pathways and develop the key employment skills needed to make their best choice. The programme offers:

• a package of workshops to help prepare young people for the world of work: raising aspirations, professional behaviours coaching, plus additional time for one-to-one support.
• advice, information and guidance on apprenticeships, university and employment opportunities.
• support with managing anxieties and worries.

Schools can refer pupils with this form.

Specialised support for young people with SEND is available under the Local Offer including Supported Internship.

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.

What is equalex?

• A framework of structured learning outcomes to raise the quality of work experience for learners.
• A multi-year, multi-experience model supported by the curriculum and accessible to ALL learners.
• A tiered approach providing a structure offering breadth and depth of workplace experiences.

Benefits for Students

Work experience helps students make career decisions and develop skills needed for education, apprenticeships, and the workplace. Key benefits include:

• Increased confidence and self-esteem
• Improved communication with adults
• Better timekeeping, organisation, and time management
• Practical work skills
• Teamwork and problem-solving abilities
• Understanding of industry roles and career pathways
• Exposure to different job opportunities

How to get started?

• Research: Everyone needs to start somewhere. If there is any field or industry that you are interested in, why not research the working patterns, roles and local employers and see how that looks like?
• Volunteering: If you find volunteering opportunities for the roles you’d like to explore, don’t hesitate! It’s a great way for you to gain work experience and they are more willing to word around your schedule
• Find hands-on work experience: You can get support from your Careers Leader at school or simply approach employers directly for work experience opportunities during the school holidays. Virtual work experience is emerging, so you may want to have a look on that as well.
• Be proactive: Accept as many opportunities as possible as immersing in the industry or role is the best way for you to understand how everything works. 

Useful guide: Student Guide to Work Experience

Post 16 Tracking Team

You or your parent/guardian, may receive a call, text message, or email from one of our Tracking Team asking for information about what you/your child is doing now.

Here’s why: 

Solihull Council has the responsibility to track the destinations of all young people on whether they are in education, employment or training. This includes those who are educated in Solihull in Year 11 or live in Solihull up to the end of the academic year in which they turn 18, and extends to their 25th birthday for young people with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan).

We have a statutory duty to send this information to the Department for Education each month (we report purely on numbers not by individual) and it needs to be accurate. You may have already told us what you are doing but we need to make sure it’s still the same after a certain point in time.

We receive regular enrolment and withdrawal data from local schools and colleges. If we are notified that you/your child is no longer attending, we may contact you to offer support and ensure we have an up-to-date destination recorded.

E-mails will come from "Post 16 Tracking - Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council" and text messages from 07860034483.

If we are unable to confirm you/your child’s current destination using phone call / text or e-mail we may visit you at home to collect this information.  If you no longer live in Solihull, please get in touch to let us know your new address as the local authority where you now live is responsible for collecting this information.

To get in touch or if you require any further information, please e-mail: post16tracking@solihull.gov.uk

For more information on the statutory duties placed on local authorities and to view our Privacy Notice, please see links below:

• Participation of young people: education, employment and training - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Privacy Notice - Employment and Skills (solihull.gov.uk)