The West Midlands enjoyed the largest increase in employment of any UK region for the third consecutive month, according to job figures released today.

The region’s employment rate now stands at 74.9 per cent after a 1.2 per cent increase between April and January.

In a further boost, unemployment fell by 0.3 per cent and the inactivity rate decreased by 1.1 per cent.

Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce said the continued rise in employment is a clear sign of the region’s renaissance.

Chief executive Paul Faulkner (pictured) said: “The West Midlands is in the midst of an exciting era: a period of massive regeneration, fuelled by innovative businesses and innovative leadership.

“Our latest Quarterly Business Report showed more manufacturing and services sector businesses in Greater Birmingham adding to their headcounts, and a slight decline in those facing difficulties doing so.

“Indications suggest that many West Midlands residents are rising to the challenge and accessing the wealth of new opportunities in the region, but we must persist with collective efforts to upskill the region.

“The Bank of England’s recent interest rate rise was partially predicated on consistent employment gains, and in the West Midlands we are now consistently outpacing national figures.

“For the third consecutive month the West Midlands has seen the largest increase in employment rate of any UK region.

“Less than a year ago, we were calling for stronger interventions from stakeholders to tackle the country’s third lowest employment rate, which came coupled with worryingly high unemployment and inactivity figures.

“We have seen significant improvements in the proportion of the population accessing work since the start of the year.”

But Mr Faulkner warned there is work still to be done to upskill workers, with the region still having the second highest unemployment rate in the UK, after London.

He added: “However, there is still far more that must be done to tackle the high unemployment in the region – particularly around raising local skill levels. The majority of businesses recruiting are still experiencing problems accessing the skilled talent they need.

“We must also closely monitor any further decreases in average hours worked across the region, and make efforts to ensure that rising employment figures represent gainful employment that meets the aspirations of local people.

“The Chambers are incredibly proud to be a part of Birmingham and the West Midlands, and to be working with over 3,000 businesses and stakeholders to ensure local potential is realised.”

Children and young people are enjoying a packed programme of hundreds of super summer activities, with much more still to come throughout the rest of the school holidays.

Library staff and volunteers, friends groups and partners are putting on a wide range of activities, from crafts, games and colouring to puppets, jewellery making and science sessions.

There are activities led by professional entertainers supported by the Federation of Friends of Sandwell Libraries. From storytellers, jugglers and musicians to magic, theatre experiences and design your own comic book cover sessions, there are activities for everyone to enjoy.

And don’t forget the Summer Reading Challenge – children aged four to 11 can hunt for treasure in Beanotown and become ‘Mischief Makers’ as they read six books during the school holiday.

Sandwell Council's cabinet member for children’s services Councillor Simon Hackett said: “It is wonderful that children are being encouraged to go into our libraries to enjoy lots of events and hopefully start to enjoy the many services available.

“There's a huge range of events for children and young to get involved in activities where they can learn and have fun.

“I would urge parents and carers to check out the long list of events, there is something for everyone.”

For those who achieve their required grades, A Level results day is one of relief, but just how much do UK teens know about their options if their results aren’t what they needed to get onto their chosen university course?

The University of Law, the UK's longest-established specialist provider of legal education and training, has polled both 1,000 UK teenagers aged between 13 and 17, and 1,000 UK parents (of children this age), to reveal the nation’s worries and expectations about getting accepted into university.

Two thirds (66%) of the secondary school children polled were worried about getting onto their chosen university course, with a third (33%) saying it’s too competitive and 14% saying this was down to their performance at school.

For one in seven (14%) their worry stems from disappointing their parents if they didn’t secure a place. Despite this, the parent survey showed a quarter (26%) of parents don’t have a preference in their child’s career choices.

Although many of the children were concerned they wouldn’t be accepted onto their preferred course, only 7% seemed to take comfort in the options Clearing can offer them, suggesting little awareness of this, despite UCAS data showing 505,680 students were successfully placed onto a university course during the Clearing process in 2017* - a figure which has only risen in the past three years**.

The research also looked into the top career choices in the eyes of British teenagers, versus those they believe pay the most – highlighting the two don’t always correlate. Owning a business was the most aspired career (32%), followed closely by the similar self-employment goal of being a YouTuber, Blogger, or Social Influencer (18%) - although these 21^st Century careers only made it 4^th and 5^th on the list of those believed to bring in the most income.

Commenting on the results, Lysette Gauna, Head of Brand & Content Marketing at The University of Law, said: “It’s sad to see the worries and concerns teenagers feel about getting into university, especially when they can take comfort in the support that the Clearing process can offer them.

“At The University of Law, we’ve seen a lot of great students come onto our courses through Clearing, so we think it’s important students are made aware the different avenues available to them. This might help take away some of the pressure they feel on results day.”

Dr Nick Smith, courses director and founder of Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “A Level results day is a massive occasion for students all over the country and it’s great to see so many smiling faces excited for the future.

“Inevitably some will not receive the news they were hoping for and fall a little short of the results needed for their next step. We’re here to reassure them that everything is going to be alright! If students don’t quite get the A Levels they wanted, there are a number of options available to them.

“The UCAS clearing system should be your first port of call if you didn’t meet your university’s grade requirements. Many institutions will still have places available, so have a look on the UCAS website or give them a quick call to check if your course is on offer elsewhere.

“Alternatively, it might be worth considering other learning pathways, such as apprenticeships or work experience. Gap years are also an option and allow you to pursue other interests such as travel or charity work.

“For students considering a break from traditional education, you can still resit A Levels or even start studying for new ones whilst working. Distance learning is the most flexible way of doing this as everything you need is available online, so you can learn wherever and whenever is convenient for you.”

This Thursday (16 August 2018) will see students in the West Midlands nervously receive their A-Level results. But whilst many teens will be delighted with their grades, the day can also prove to be extremely testing for those who fall short of their expectations.

Ahead of A Level results day, NICEIC - the UK’s leading name for electricians - is reminding school and college-leavers to consider viable alternatives to the degree route.

NICEIC wants more young entrants to consider a hands-on apprenticeship and choose a career as an electrician. Research by the Federation of Master Builders¹ found that the average salary for electricians around the country is £47,265; far exceeding the university graduate’s average income of £32,000. Plus, without the added stress of looming debts, apprentices are now giving graduates a run for their money.

Darren Staniforth, technical development manager at NICEIC comments: “The perception that you can only have a successful career if you study at university is a false one. Students are increasingly taking an interest in trade industries – with apprenticeships becoming a much more enticing proposition.

“For some, it may be the appeal of learning a desired set of technical skills, whilst others will be inspired by the prospect of earning while they learn. Our role is to reach out to the younger generations to showcase the opportunities available and promote the electrical industry as an attractive career path.”

NICEIC believes that learning a trade is a viable alternative to studying at university and is committed to attracting the next generation into the industry. The NICEIC Student Membership Scheme offers support to apprentice electricians to complement the training and personal development of students undertaking relevant technical competency training.

Darren adds: “The construction sector is actually a well-paid sector that offers a vast array of opportunities. Yet, it is still viewed by some as a third-rate industry for people who do not perform well at school.

“We want to change that interpretation and show students what a rewarding and diverse career they can have within the electrical sector.”