Business leaders in the West Midlands today called on the region to urgently address its skills gap following the release of disappointing job figures.

The Office for National Statistics said that for the three months ending November 2017, the highest unemployment rate in the UK was in the West Midlands (5.5 per cent) while the national figure remained at 4.3 per cent.

The new figure is only 0.2 per cent up on the previous quarter and is marginally lower than the 5.6 per cent of a year ago. But Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) said much of the problem was caused by the skills gap in the region and called on stakeholders to learn lessons from the North East, where unemployment was slowly decreasing.

Paul Faulkner, the GBCC’s chief executive, said: “These figures need to be a wake-up call for the region.

“They show one of the region’s greatest strengths: that we are creating record numbers of new jobs in the West Midlands. But they also throw into sharp relief the big challenge: ensuring that local people are skilled for and able to access these jobs.

“Despite plenty of discussion about closing skills gaps, the West Midlands now has the highest unemployment rate in the UK.

“The region’s leaders and stakeholders need to fundamentally shift up a gear in efforts to tackle unemployment. Businesses have a key role to play in ensuring they communicate what skills and qualifications they need.

“The North East unemployment rate has dropped significantly in recent years from the highest in the UK so stakeholders in our region may be able to learn lessons from their experience.

“Nationally, the Government should make it easier for employers to invest in upskilling their staff. In particular by reducing the administrative burden that reformed apprenticeship funding places on small businesses, and to ensure that levy-paying businesses are able to make the best use of the Apprenticeship Levy.

“The GBCC is helping businesses invest in staff development through the GBCC Growth Through People campaign – four weeks of free events with over 40 partner organisations all on leadership and people management.”

The inaugural Chelsea FC Foundation Soccer School will provide the highlight of an action-packed Easter programme for families at Spain's La Manga Club, with free nights among a range of attractive benefits on offer at the award-winning five-star resort.

Guests can take advantage of an array of discounts and savings when booking a holiday of five nights or more at the award-winning Murcia resort before January 31. The Chelsea Foundation soccer school – the first of a series that will be held at La Manga Club over the next three years – will take place from April 9-14 and offers the chance for youngsters to train using the same methods the Chelsea Foundation employs around the world. Open to boys and girls between the ages of six and 16, the school includes up to three hours' daily training from the Foundation's team of expert coaches, with all participants receiving an official Chelsea Foundation Nike training kit of a shirt, shorts and socks.

La Manga Club is also running its own junior football academy from March 26 until April 2 as well as a three-week children's animation programme over Easter, while there are a number of other academies over the holiday period that are suitable for all the family. These include golf and tennis, while special rates are available on a range of sports and activities in or nearby the venue including golf, tennis, diving, cycling and watersports.

A visit to a University of Wolverhampton Open Day resulted in one student finding an Apprenticeship with a national construction company.

Jagroop Dhillow, 18, from Barr Beacon School, Birmingham, was interested in pursuing a career in Quantity Surveying, when he attended the Open Day at City Campus in Wolverhampton to seek advice on courses and career choices.

Using their significant contacts with employers, the Built Environment team contacted VINCI Construction UK and made arrangements for Jagroop to attend an interview. He was offered a full-time position as a trainee Quantity Surveyor and is now studying the Chartered Surveyor Higher Apprenticeship Degree in Quantity Surveying.

Paul Hampton, Head of Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We continue to maintain our strong links with employers and the built environment sector and are delighted we could facilitate the outstanding opportunity for Jagroop. We offer a range of Higher and Degree Apprenticeship pathways for people who are already employed or for students who can be matched with the right employer.

“We’re seeing that more and more ‘A Level’ students consider the Apprenticeship route, looking to earn whilst they learn and by understanding how VINCI Construction UK operate Jagroop seemed to be a perfect fit with their business and it made sense to facilitate a meeting to put them in touch.”

Michelle Curzon, Head of Academy at VINCI Construction UK, said: “The Academy is part of the learning and development department and we deal with the recruitment of trainees and apprentices and, from the construction side of the business, trainee quantity surveyors, trainee engineers and construction managers.

“Jagroop stood out as being someone who was really enthusiastic and was keen to join the industry – he applied for the trainee position through the normal channels and after being short-listed, was successful in securing the Apprenticeship with us.”

Jagroop said: “I had completed some work experience with VINCI Construction UK and it was a great company – definitely someone I wanted work for – so when I attended the University Open Day I was really excited that there were some links in place with this particular company.

“The University and the Apprenticeship Hub really supported me through the process and now I’m working full-time as a trainee Quantity Surveyor whilst studying at the same time, one day a week, for my Higher/Degree Apprenticeship qualification which is a dream come true for me.”

Students fly London to LA for less than the increase of an annual season ticket between Bournemouth and London

The recent rail fare increase has now made Britain the most expensive place in Europe to travel by train. So, the experts at StudentUniverse the world's leading travel booking service for students and youth, have compared these rail fare increases with flight costs to show how far youth travellers are able to travel for the same costs.

StudentUniverse found flight deals to America, UAE, Africa and Europe for less than the new rail hikes affecting commuters up and down the country.

Commuters travelling into London from Bournemouth might be frustrated to know that student and youth travellers can get all the way to Los Angeles for £231 - £1 less than their season ticket increase (£232). Similarly, students can fly to Dubai for £154; that's £22 less than the price hike on an Oxford to London annual fare (£176). A group of three youngsters can travel to Rome and back (£141) only spending £1 more than the fare hike one Gloucester commuter will face for their daily journey to Birmingham (£140).

Students who attended the workshop are all part of the Aspire to HE programme, which aims to support the Government’s goals to help more young people into higher education (HE) by 2020.

The ‘Cooking on a Budget’ workshop, devised by the college’s Aspire team, was organised to help students gain the culinary skills to prepare quick and easy meals at university without compromising on cost or taste.

Chris Sammons, Walsall College’s lecturer in Hospitality and Catering, taught students how to prepare a tasty Pasta dish and a Chilli Con Carne.

Chris also gave students tips on how to shop on a budget, hygiene as well as storing and freezing food.

Students were then tasked to create their own budget meal, using new culinary skills which they then cooked using a range of free ingredients.

At the end of the session, the students also received a free cookery book, packed with hundreds of affordable recipes they can practice at home and when they start university.

The ‘Cooking on a Budget’ workshop is the first of a series that will take place over the next months. Future dates include: Thursday 1st February – 2.30am – 4.00pm

The Aspire to HE programme is a partnership funded through the National Collaborative Outreach Programme (NCOP) that supports the government’s goal to increase the number of young people from specific post codes entering higher education by 2020.

Vivien Russell, Walsall College’s Progress Coach for Aspire to HE, said: “Living independently and budgeting for food is a large part of university life. The workshop was chance to prepare students for some of the challenges and opportunities of living on a smaller budget, whilst being able to prepare healthy and tasty meals.

The feedback we’ve received has been very positive. Students have commented on how useful the workshop was for them, as well as enjoying the beautifully presented recipe book they received that provides a wide range of choice some would not associate with budget cooking.”

An award winning graduate from the University of Wolverhampton School of Art picked up a BAFTA (British Academy Film and Television Arts) for his children’s television work recently.

Carl Hadley 52, from Stourbridge, graduated from the University of Wolverhampton with a Degree in Visual Communication in 1987 and is now a visiting lecturer at the Wolverhampton School of Art.

He was a British Academy Children’s Award Winner 2017 for Short Form in November 2017 for his work on CITV’s Share a Story competition. He was based at Salford Media City, where he was Head of Graphics at the Children’s Channel, leading a small team of award winning designers and animators.

Carl had worked for CITV for 12 years after joining Central TV in 1989 and worked on CITV’s BAF­TA winning ‘Share a Story’ competition as well as the BAFTA nominated ‘Compost Corner’ anima­tions.

The ‘Share a Story’ competition was open to children aged 5 to 12 who were invited to write and draw an original short story. Winning stories were turned into 60 second animations in collabora­tion with top animators and broadcast exclusively on CITV.

Since its inception, ‘Share a Story’ has received six BAFTA award nominations, winning four, and has picked up a handful of RTS (Royal Television Society) awards for individual animations and animators.

Carl was a key producer of Share a Story and has played an integral role within the competition over the last 8 years.

Carl said: “Bringing a child’s imagination to life with awesome animation and showing it on TV is the essence of the competition, it’s a rewarding experience for all involved. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be part of Share a Story – I’m always inspired by the passion, creativity and originality of both the children and the animators alike. To be part of this magical process has been a privilege.”

Working alongside the winning, talented young authors and budding animators he creates the storyboards, animatics and often had a hand in the character design of stories. Carl has commis­sioned and collaborated with animators from across the country and helped direct and produce a series of award winning animations.

He currently works with the animation students at the University as a Visiting Lecturer.