Youth Trailblazer

Abi is the first young person supported into work through the Youth Trailblazer programme.

She said: “I didn’t have much work experience, so finding a job was quite difficult. The Employment and Skills Team made everything really easy and smooth. They prepared me for the job interview, which definitely helped with my confidence.”

Abi now works as a hotel receptionist at the Barn Hotel, part of The Barn at Berryfields.

Find out more about how the programme helped Abi find a job in hospitality. 

Animal lovers Jessie and Harry have explored 12 different animal-related career paths from pet sitting to veterinary – thanks to Solihull Council’s Youth Trailblazer programme. 

Jessie and Harry had a three-week placement with the Snooty Pooch CIC, a community organisation that improves local mental health and wellbeing through therapy dog services and community events. 

Find out more about how the programme helped Jessie and Harry find out all the career paths working with animals.

Conor wanted to work in the Construction industry but found it difficult to start a career without the qualifications and experience. 

He signed up for Youth Trailblazer programme where our team worked with him to understand his aspirations and skills. We arranged training for him to build a range of employability skills. We matched him with Birmingham Solihull Construction and Training Centre for 3 weeks of unpaid work experience. 

During the placement, he supported setting up classrooms or workshops areas and stockkeeping of health and safety equipment. He proactively contributed at meetings and communicated with suppliers. He has benefitted by learning and gaining a range of employability skills such as communication skills, organisational skills. His confidence has grown tremendously. He enjoyed working as a team or independently.

Following the placement, Conor gained Level 1 certificates in various areas in the industry. He has been successfully qualified for his Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS card). He has now gone onto further education with a placement in Level 1 Carpentry and Joinery, taking a huge step to start a career in Construction.

Demi had experience working in a care home kitchen which wasn’t forward facing. She was excited to start a 12-week paid placement with Welcome Change CIC as a support worker at their community hub.

Demi shared how rewarding her experience with Welcome Change CIC has been:

“Working at Welcome Change has been the best experience of my life. When I got offered to join the team after the placement ended, I was so shocked and happy as I knew the job wasn’t guaranteed. It feels great to start a career in community work!”

Find out more about how the programme helped Demi start a new career path in community work.

After two years of job searching, Sabba has just started her first job - a permanent role in childcare, a sector she is passionate about.

Despite her Level 3 qualification in Childcare Studies, Sabba struggled to find her first job. After signing up to the programme, Sabba was then matched with Bosworth Wood Community Day Nursery CIC managed by Kay Dorris, for a 12-week paid placement. Kay decided to offer Sabba a permanent job when the placement was coming to an end.

Find out more about how the programme helped Sabba find her first job.

When he was at school, Ben only wanted to do one thing in life – to be a car mechanic. Although he held a Level 2 qualification in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair, Ben lacked hands-on work experience and was struggling to secure a job.

During a three-week placement as a light vehicle technician with local BMW and Mini specialists, Rehal Autohaus, Ben’s enthusiasm and manner quickly impressed the team who offered him a 12-week paid placement. This led to a permanent role as an apprentice. He will also soon be working towards his Level 3 qualification in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair.

Find out more about how the programme helped Ben become a car mechanic working towards an apprenticeship.