750 young people connect with top employers at Birmingham’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair
Birmingham hosted its first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair, connecting over 750 young people with more than 70 major employers to explore job opportunities and career support.
Birmingham’s first Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair brought together over 750 young people and more than 70 of the UK’s largest businesses, charities, and local partners to discuss employment prospects. The event facilitated immediate outcomes, with 24 young people receiving job offers on the spot, 44 securing work experience placements, and 76 matched to live vacancies or employer information sessions. Attendees participated in workshops, speed mentoring, and a virtual reality interview session led by Severn Trent to build practical career skills. The fair is part of a broader government initiative backed by a £2.5 billion investment to support youth employment and training opportunities nationwide.
The Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair in Birmingham is part of a wider government strategy to provide employment and training support to young people across Great Britain. The initiative has already helped over 1,000 jobseekers secure jobs, work experience, or training opportunities through similar events in Bristol, Glasgow, London, and Leeds. Employers including Lloyds Banking Group, AtkinsRéalis, and Serco attended an employer roundtable to discuss strategies for improving youth employment and workforce development. The discussions emphasized collaboration between businesses and local partners to create stronger pathways into work for young people.
The event included tailored sessions such as ‘Talent Match,’ where young people’s skills were directly aligned with employer needs, leading to interviews, jobs, or training opportunities. Speed mentoring provided one-to-one career advice from major employers, while a virtual reality workshop by Severn Trent allowed participants to practice interview techniques in a realistic setting. The fair aimed to deliver not just job opportunities but also mentorship and career guidance to young attendees. Government officials highlighted the importance of bringing jobs, training, and support directly into communities to help young people fulfil their potential.
The Birmingham Jobs Fair represents a key step in the government’s £2.5 billion youth employment package, which aims to support nearly one million young people and create 500,000 opportunities across the country. The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to reducing youth unemployment by connecting young people with employers and training providers. By hosting events in every region, the Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair seeks to ensure that young people in every postcode have access to meaningful career opportunities and support.