Improving Employability and Employment Outcomes for Young People in Greater Birmingham’s Changing Labour Market

The University of Birmingham is launching a Call for Evidence as part of a Commission from the Rigby Foundation to:

• Compile and review evidence on existing and future employment trends, employers’ labour and skills requirements and insights from employment and skills initiatives focusing on young people
• Assess what this means for employability and employment outcomes of young people in Greater Birmingham, with a particular focus on disadvantaged young people
• Make associated recommendations for policy

We seek evidence from anyone with relevant knowledge, expertise or experience – including employability professionals, educators and trainers, careers advisers, economic development organisations, policy analysts, academics and researchers, civil society organisations and residents.

The evidence will be used to inform the Commission by contributing to the review and assessment of employment trends, skills requirements, issues facing young people entering the labour market and associated policy recommendations. We are particularly interested in policy solutions where there are Greater Birmingham levers for change.

Call for Evidence Questions

** Please feel free to answer some or all of these questions

1. What are the key challenges facing young people in transitioning successfully from education to employment in Greater Birmingham?
2. What are the most pressing skills issues that businesses are facing currently? What is the role of young people entering the labour market in helping to address these challenges?
3. How is AI impacting on future skills needs and job roles? What are the implications for young people seeking employment?
4. What initiatives at (operating currently or previously at local, regional or national scales) have been particularly helpful in supporting young people into employment? What essential ingredients have contributed to their success? (Please provide details/ links to these initiatives.)
5. How can employers be encouraged to provide meaningful (preferably paid) work experience for young people?
6. How do you think local and regional policy in relation to improving employability and employment outcomes of young people in Greater Birmingham needs to change?

Respondents are asked to submit their evidence (as a Word or PDF document) to: Anne Green a.green.1@bham.ac.uk and Abigail Taylor a.taylor.7@bham.ac.uk by 13^th February 2026.

Download the form and access more details