Improving employability and employment outcomes for young people in Birmingham

The project was designed to:

• Compile and review evidence on current and future employment trends, employer labour and skills requirements, and their implications for young people in Birmingham.

• Assess how labour market change, including the impact of artificial intelligence, is affecting opportunities for young people in Birmingham and the West Midlands.

• Identify what is working well within existing employment, skills and youth support initiatives, and where there are gaps in provision.

• Examine barriers to employment and employability, particularly for disadvantaged young people and those at risk of becoming NEET.

• Gather evidence from employers, young people, education sector leaders and policymakers to understand system-wide challenges.

• Assess the implications of these findings for Birmingham's employment and skills system.

• Develop practical, evidence-based policy recommendations to improve transitions into employment, education and training and strengthen regional opportunities for young people in Birmingham.

The research was led by City-REDI (City-Region Economic Development Institute), University of Birmingham. The project team comprised:

• Professor Anne Green

• Dr Abigail Taylor

• Dr Chloe Billing

• Dr Charlotte Hoole

• Dr Maryna Ramcharan

• Johannes Read

• Dr Matthew Lyons

The project was supported by a multidisciplinary Advisory Group representing business, employer representative organisations, government, education, youth employment and social mobility experts. Members included:

• Fiona Aldridge – Chief Executive, Skills Federation; Skills England Board Member; Non-Executive Director, Youth Futures Foundation.

• Sareena Bains – Strategy and Transformation Leader, Accenture; former CEO, Movement to Work.

• Helene Dearn OBE, West Midlands Combined Authority.

• Adele Every – Managing Director, UK & Ireland Public Sector, Cisco International Limited.

• Matthew Gordon OBE – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Spectra.

• Megan Haskell – Senior Relationship Manager, Connected Futures Programme, Youth Futures Foundation.

• Professor Ewart Keep – Emeritus Professor of Education, Training and Skills, University of Oxford.

• Jacqui Maher – Deputy Principal, South and City College Birmingham.

• Professor Chris Millward – Professor of Practice in Education Policy, University of Birmingham.

• Nikki Paterson – Director, Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Midlands

• Emily Stubbs – Head of Policy, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

• Spencer Wilson – Head of Employment and Skills, Birmingham City Council.

• Raj Kandola – Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

Project lead contact details:

Professor Anne Green and Dr Abigail Taylor

Project Support contact details:

Selina Soomal, City-REDI

Inspiring Futures. Improving outcomes for young people in Birmingham

This report examines how well the employment and skills system supports young people in Birmingham and the West Midlands, with a particular focus on rising youth unemployment, economic inactivity and the growing number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Authors: Anne Green, Abigail Taylor, Chloe Billing, Charlotte Hoole, Maryna Ramcharan, Johannes Read and Matthew Lyons (City-REDI, University of Birmingham)

July 2026