The Ladder Initiative: Addressing Youth Unemployment in the West Midlands

The West Midlands Combined Authority has established the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund, which has paid out £375,000 to small and medium-sized firms to support apprenticeships in the region. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to help the West Midlands recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ladder initiative, which has been instrumental in creating thousands of apprenticeships across the region, has warned of the potential for youth unemployment to rise significantly in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

• The Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund has paid out £375,000 to support apprenticeships in the West Midlands, with a focus on small and medium-sized firms.
• The Ladder initiative has created thousands of apprenticeships across the region, with a strong emphasis on partnerships between public, private, and third sectors.
• Experts, including three former Chancellors, have warned of the potential for 1980s levels of unemployment in the UK, highlighting the need for urgent government action to address the issue.
• The Prime Minister has pledged to support young people by providing an apprenticeship to every young person, as the government braces for a wave of youth unemployment.
• The Ladder initiative aims to mitigate the economic impact on young people by raising awareness of the issue, assisting employment, and underpinning vocational education.
• The initiative is working with partners, including MPs, the business community, public sector, and academic partners, to address the issue of youth unemployment.
• The Ladder has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and is working with media partners to make a positive contribution to giving young people the employment opportunities they deserve.

Statistics:

• £375,000 paid out by the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Fund to support apprenticeships in the West Midlands.
• 1,000 apprenticeships created through the London Ladder pilot in 2012.
• Thousands of apprenticeships created through the Ladder initiative across the West Midlands region.
• 3 former Chancellors (Lord Alistair Darling, George Osborne, and Philip Hammond) have warned of the potential for 1980s levels of unemployment in the UK.
• The Prime Minister has pledged to provide an apprenticeship to every young person as the government braces for a wave of youth unemployment.

Sources:

• "This week, Amazon and Sandwell Council paid out PS375,000 to small and medium-sized firms to support apprenticeships in the region. It comes as part of a move to help the West Midlands recover from the impact of coronavirus as restrictions are eased." - Kevin Davis Ladder Chairman
• "Experts have issued a series of warnings on the economic outlook, with three former Chancellors warning the Government to prepare for 1980s levels of unemployment." - Lord Alistair Darling, George Osborne, and Philip Hammond
• "The Prime Minister has pledged to support young people by providing an apprenticeship to every young person, as the government braces for a wave of youth unemployment." - Boris Johnson
• "The Ladder initiative has created thousands of apprenticeships across the region, with a strong emphasis on partnerships between public, private, and third sectors." - Kevin Davis Ladder Chairman