Birmingham is gearing up for a new wave of opportunity for its young people as United By 2022, the legacy charity of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, partners with Birmingham City Council to launch the Major Events Skills Academy—a first-of-its-kind programme designed to connect young Brummies with real career pathways in the city’s booming events and hospitality sector.
A New Route Into Major Events Careers
The Major Events Skills Academy is a brand-new initiative developed in partnership with Birmingham City Council, local venues, and community organisations. Its mission is simple but ambitious: to break down the barriers faced by young people in some of Birmingham’s most deprived communities and open doors into jobs, volunteering, and long-term careers.
Through the programme, 50 young people will receive training for entry-level roles in security, stewarding, hospitality, volunteering, and apprenticeships. Each participant will complete 30 hours of community volunteering, gain sector-specific skills and qualifications, and receive personalised careers guidance and interview preparation.
This holistic approach is designed not just to build employability, but to grow confidence, networks, and aspirations—laying the foundations for a stronger, more diverse future workforce.
“A Better and Brighter Future” for Birmingham’s Youth
Nicola Turner MBE, CEO of United By 2022, highlighted the urgent need for youth-focused employment support in the city:
“Birmingham is Europe’s youngest city, with 40% of the population aged under 25. Amid rising unemployment rates, there is an urgent and growing need for youth-focused support programmes, with many young people facing significant hurdles in accessing job and volunteering opportunities in the city they call home.”
She continued:
“That’s where the Major Events Skills Academy can help. By providing new routes to training, qualifications and employment – as well as building participants’ confidence, networks and aspirations – we can unlock a better and brighter future for the city’s young workforce and, in turn, help to address critical skills gaps in key sectors.”
Turner also emphasised Birmingham’s unique leadership in offering this kind of dedicated pathway into major events:
“What makes this initiative truly exceptional is that it is unique to Birmingham – no other Host city in the UK is offering a dedicated pathway of this kind. It reflects the city’s continued ambition to lead the way in inclusion, innovation and opportunity for young people.”
Preparing for a New Era of Global Events
The timing couldn’t be better. Birmingham is set to host several major international events over the next three years—including the European Athletics Championships 2026, The Invictus Games 2027, and UEFA EURO 2028. These events will bring hundreds of job and volunteering opportunities to the city.
The Major Events Skills Academy will play a crucial role in building a homegrown talent pipeline to meet this demand, supporting the growing hospitality, tourism, and events sector with skilled, locally trained young people.
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Empowering Young People to Lead Birmingham’s Future
Nicola Turner MBE added:
“As Birmingham steps up as a major event host once more, it’s an incredibly exciting time for the city – and we want to ensure that young people are at the heart of the action. The Major Events Skills Academy will empower a diverse, local youth workforce with the skills and experience they need, so they can play a vital role in Birmingham’s first-class events and hospitality sector.”
United By 2022 is working closely with Birmingham City Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority, Job Centre Plus and other partners to secure opportunities for programme graduates ranging from pre-apprenticeships to full-time employment.
The Major Events Skills Academy will run from November 2025 to March 2026, marking a significant step forward in creating long-term, inclusive employment pathways for Birmingham’s young people.
