Youth & Adult Employment
West Midlands Progression Gateway
The Colleges in the West Midlands are keen to develop innovate approaches to study programme delivery that support all young people to reach their full potential. We want to see as many young people as possible progressing to T Levels and other advanced technical programmes if that is the right route for them. However, many young people start this post 16 journey having not achieved well at GCSE level and often lacking the aspiration for these technical roles. The Progression Gateway project therefore aims to work with all colleges and the WMCA to develop an aspirational set of progression opportunities to support young people to advance through the levels and into exciting and rewarding careers. This will include:
- Collaborating on the design and delivery of new ‘progression gateway assessments’ to recognise the technical ability for young people who do not join colleges with high GCSE grades.
- Sharing innovative new approaches to delivery of study programmes and industry-led literacy and numeracy that help young people progress into technical pathways.
- Joint delivery of simplified careers and progression advice for parents and school leavers.
- Working with WMCA to align this with Mayor’s placement promise and development of CEIAG services, to provide a coherent technical offer across the region.
- Collaborative development of branding and marketing materials.
Adults and young people into employment
Despite recent growth in participation from both young people and adults in education across the West Midlands, significant challenges remain. The region continues to experience high levels of young people who are NEET (not in education, employment or training) and many adults who are either unemployed or economically inactive. This presents a major barrier to meeting local workforce demands.
In response, colleges across the region are working collaboratively through initiatives such as the ‘Adults into Employment’ and ‘16–18 NEET’ groups to develop new, targeted approaches. These efforts include:
- Partnering with the DWP and WMCA to co-design and deliver a wide range of pre-employment programmes aligned with local priority sectors and job roles.
- Expanding access to Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), Construction Gateway, Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ), and Skills Bootcamps—all of which provide tailored, fully funded pathways into employment, including work experience, technical and life skills, and employer-led job interviews.
- Working closely with employers and Employer Representative Bodies (ERBs) to align training with vacancies, helping learners transition into real employment.
- Designing and delivering new adult learning provision that directly responds to regional skills demands, using available funding flexibilities.
- Supporting employers with recruitment through work experience placements, supported internships for SEND learners, and apprenticeship levy management.
- Targeting NEET young people through collaboration with local authorities and youth organisations (Kings Trust, NCS) to re-engage them with education and training via clear progression routes.
- Jointly developing marketing, events, and stakeholder engagement strategies, including outreach to schools, to raise awareness and drive participation.
By combining strategic partnerships with practical training offers, the region’s colleges are creating a coherent, end-to-end recruitment and skills development service, supporting individuals into meaningful employment while meeting the evolving needs of employers.
Enhancing Careers Education
Colleges in the West Midlands are dedicated to strengthening careers education and guidance across the region’s colleges through greater collaboration and connectivity.
The Careers Group will bring together college careers professionals with curriculum staff, WMCA, the National Careers Service (NCS), and employers to ensure students receive high-quality, relevant support in planning their future.
By adopting a more joined-up approach, the group will help improve student progression into employment, further study, or apprenticeships.
The group will also share best practice and develop collective solutions to shared challenges across the region.
Early priority themes include:
- Work Experience and Employer Engagement
- Green Careers and Sustainability Pathways
- The Impact of AI on the Future of Work
- Addressing Discrimination and Inequality in the Workplace
This collaborative approach will support more informed and effective careers practice across colleges, leading to better outcomes for students and a stronger, skills-ready regional workforce.
Delivering successful T-levels
Whilst colleges await the outcome of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the ongoing expansion of T Levels remains a clear national and regional priority. Introduced as part of the UK Government’s Qualifications Reform, T Levels are designed to offer a high-quality technical alternative to A Levels and apprenticeships. Rigorous qualifications aligned with real-world industry needs to ensure students are “work ready.” Colleges across CWM have already seen strong growth in T Level enrolments and continue to lead on expanding access to this ‘gold standard’ technical route.
To support this continued development, CWM is working collaboratively through a dedicated T Level workstream and the regional T Level Placement Group. Together, these groups focus on:
- Strategic planning of T Level provision across local areas to ensure broad access to all pathways for young people.
- Responding proactively to curriculum reform, ensuring all T Levels remain fit for purpose and integrating alternative qualifications where appropriate.
- Joint professional development for delivery staff and support services, such as careers advisors, to build expertise across institutions.
- Working with employer representative bodies and the WMCA to increase the number and quality of industrial placements, (a core element of T Levels requiring a minimum of 315 hours of hands-on experience).
- Developing a cohesive, region-wide approach to placements that offers employers structured, meaningful, and low-cost opportunities to engage with emerging talent, shape future workforce skills, and reduce recruitment risk.
- Sharing best practice in delivery, assessment, and project work to raise standards across the region.
- Contributing to the WM Progression Gateway project to help students access and succeed on T Level programmes.
- Coordinating joint marketing and celebration events to raise awareness among young people, parents, and employers.
Through this collaborative effort, colleges are helping to modernise technical education, build a future talent pipeline, and ensure students and employers alike benefit from the full potential of T Level qualifications.
