Works News

Walsall Council's award-winning Walsall Works programme aims to support local residents into work, training or apprenticeships. Customers registered to the programme have continued to receive support from our team of employment advisors through virtual communication or via face-to face appointments at a number of local venues across Walsall. Should you require any support with your employability e.g. career advice, confidence building, CV preparation, job search assistance or support in accessing training or educational courses, you can arrange an appointment with one of our Employment Advisors by contacting the Walsall Works team by email at walsallworks@walsall.gov.uk, by telephone at 01922 654353 or by visiting www.walsallworks.com

The Walsall Works programme celebrated it's 10 Year Anniversary at the Walsall Works Expo held at Walsall College's Hub on 24 March 2022. The Walsall Works team were joined by a number of customers, partner organisations, employers and local training providers toin celebration of the achievements the programme has delivered since its inception in 2012. 

A scheme that finds places for Walsall jobseekers in local firms has just hit the 100 placement milestone. The Kickstart scheme creates quality, paid 6-month work placements for Walsall young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming a Universal Credit benefit and are at risk of long term unemployment.

Looking for a career change? Are you at risk of redundancy and need additional support to secure your next role? Need to develop some new skills after a long break from work?

Walsall College have full-time and part-time courses in a wide range of career areas, including construction (CSCS Card), health and social care, teaching, childcare and retail.

Walsall Council is continuing our working relationship with the Department of Work & Pensions to to support local businesses to access the Government’s landmark Kickstart Scheme. We are asking small and medium sized businesses interested in registering for the scheme to register their details with us by contacting Rob Beck on rob.beck@walsall.gov.uk or calling 07464 495183.

This year, four businesses have been awarded Gold Partner status and seven have been named Silver Partners. All the recipients have demonstrated targeted local recruitment as well as significant social value activities in areas such as helping staff to increase their skills, raising aspiration in schools and supporting community.

From 1st September, employers can apply for incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice. 

Any organisation can apply for the payment, no matter the size or the sector. The important thing is that you hire an apprentice who is new to your organisation and starts their contract of employment and their apprenticeship with you between 1 August 2020 and 31 January 2021.

Please find information and link below to a portal which enables people and employers to search free online courses.   Courses are free for the unemployed, those who are furloughed or employed on low wage and businesses across all sectors for their workforce.   

On 3 March 2020, the Walsall Works team completed their #10kfor10k celebration by undertaking a 10km walk through the borough in celebration of supporting 10,000 local residents with employability support.  

Walsall Council provide a rapid reaction service to those residents facing redundancy with an offer of employability support, links to new opportunities and upskilling. Walsall Works and its partners recently responded to those residents affected by job losses at Co-op Energy.

Walsall’s business, both large and small, make a significant contribution toward the wellbeing and success of the local communities. It is with this in mind that the Walsall Works Partner Awards were created as a recognition of the delivery of social value activity. In September, we celebrated this and presented Bronze, Silver and Gold Partner Awards to deserving local employers. 

Apprenticeships are an effective way to develop and train your future workforce and increase current skill levels. To support local SMEs with accessing these, the West Midlands Combined Authority have launched a £40m levy transfer scheme to direct unspent apprenticeships funds into local businesses.

In September, the award-winning Walsall Works team delivered the Black Country’s largest job fair with its biannual Expo event. This featured 80 exhibitors, including Barhale, HomeServe and Midcounties Co-op, meeting with over a thousand local residents. For more details about this innovative event and how to exhibit at the March 2020 Expo.

Thursday 7 November 2019, 10am - 1pm @ Walsall Council House, Lichfield Street, Walsall WS1 1SE

On Thursday 7th November Walsall Works will be hosting our Inclusion 2020 Jobs Fair aimed at those with physical or mental disabilities.

The fair will feature inclusive employers showcasing opportunities in a calm environment.

Contact us to book your place on 01922 654353 or email walsallworks@walsall.gov.uk

Walsall Works is a Walsall Council-funded programme bringing employers and local residents together. Through initiatives such as our events, our job clubs and our free job brokerage, we have been able to drive up the number of Walsall people getting into jobs, apprenticeships and training.

View our latest snapshot of performance and to see how Walsall Works is making a difference for local people.

The whole of Walsall benefits when businesses and organisations help their neighbours and local communities to prosper.

On 21 March, the first round of 2019 partners were announced at a ceremony at Walsall College Hub. This included a record number of new Gold Partners, with six local employers being able to demonstrate leadership in the delivery of social value. The Gold Partners were ZF Lemforder, Lovell Partnerships, whg, Walsall College, AF Blakemore and the Midcounties Co-operative.

The Walsall Works team took the Best in Class Award for Skills at the FSB  awards on 12 July 2018.

The National Apprenticeship Awards 2018 are open for entries
Visit appawards.co.uk to find out more and apply

The Walsall Works programme has been creating employment opportunities for local residents, supporting businesses and delivering employability support since 2012.

On 15th March 2018, Walsall Council’s award winning Walsall Works team staged the Walsall Works Expo which took place at the Walsall College Sports and Enterprise Hub.