A ‘one stop’ shop has been launched to give people the skills they need to land thousands of jobs at next summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The bespoke, on-line portal has been set up by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to offer valuable information on training courses that are matched to Birmingham 2022 jobs.

The Jobs and Skills Academy portal is part of the WMCA’s commitment to train more than 6,000 local people for jobs that are available right now as well as during and after the 11-day sporting spectacle.

The ‘one stop shop’ offers access to a wide range of courses in sectors which are expected to see large numbers of jobs created by the Games such as security, stewarding, logistics, catering and cleaning. Courses are free to West Midlands residents with an annual income of less than £18,135*.

Commonwealth Games contractors are also part of the initiative so local people can be connected directly to those companies helping to stage the Games. Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA, said:

“The Games and the legacy they will leave could create up to 35,000 jobs which is why myself and other leaders were so determined to land this global event for our region.

“Now, following the impact of the pandemic on local workers, the opportunities offered by the Games are more important than ever and it’s crucial local people have the skills needed to fill the jobs being created – not just during the Games themselves but also in the months leading up to them and in the years afterwards.

“That’s why the WMCA, working closely with our partners, is funding this comprehensive training programme ahead of next summer and I would urge people to use this ‘one stop shop’ to find out how they can get trained for an exciting new career.”

The Academy was set up by the WMCA in conjunction with Birmingham 2022 to help local people gain the skills needed to capitalise on the opportunities created by the Games. It is working with adult education providers such as colleges, local authorities and independent training companies to ensure that the training delivered aligns to the future needs of the Commonwealth Games contractors. Ian Reid, Chief Executive for Birmingham 2022, added:

“The Jobs and Skills Academy is a fantastic initiative that will allow local people to gain the skills they need so that they can apply for the thousands of jobs that the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is creating in the host city and the West Midlands region.

“I hope that people in Birmingham and the region grab this opportunity so that they can help us to deliver a spectacular edition of the Games next summer.”

The training courses are the latest of several initiatives underway. Earlier this year the WMCA launched on-going training courses for a further 1,500 residents to gain new, higher level skills to help secure jobs during and after the Games. Courses include event management, digital marketing, hospitality, health, lifestyle and science, sports coaching and team leading.