University News Last updated 26 August 2021
Birmingham City University has joined forces with West Midlands Police to deliver a government-backed initiative tackling rising unemployment amongst young people.
The University is working in partnership with the region’s police force on the government’s Kickstart Scheme, which aims to reduce the number of unemployed 18-24 year-olds across the country.
The project has already seen Birmingham City University work with WMP to provide opportunities enabling dozens of graduates to take on positions within the police across 24 different areas of work.
As a result of the partnership, starting from July 2021, 21 graduates from the region have successfully secured roles to kick-start their careers with one of the region’s biggest organisations.
Birmingham City University’s involvement as a Gateway Provider for the Government’s Kickstart Scheme stems from a pioneering partnership it developed with Aston University, DWP Jobcentre Plus Birmingham and Solihull District called Graduate Re-Tune, which was established to help local unemployed and underemployed graduates into graduate level roles.
Professor Julian Beer, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Birmingham City University, said:
Paul Sumner, Head of Resourcing and Recruitment at West Midlands Police, said:
“The Kickstart Scheme has offered a new and exciting way to recruit people into a range of roles across our organisation, bringing in a wealth of talent and opportunity. We look forward to playing a key part in the scheme’s delivery moving forward.”
Matthew Till, Assistant Director at Birmingham City University, added:
“The partnership developed prior to the launch of Kickstart has put Graduate Re-Tune in a unique position. Similarly, the excellent links developed with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City University are critical to its success.
"Some graduates, who have been unemployed for longer than two years, have now secured their first graduate job with West Midlands Police through the Kickstart Scheme.”