Home assistance provider, HomeServe, has launched a new Gas Development Academy which will provide career opportunities for its network of plumbing and drainage engineers to train as fully qualified gas engineers, as well as achieving Gas Safe status. The launch of the new academy marks HomeServe’s ongoing commitment to career development and investment in multi-skilling its growing network of directly employed engineers – which now totals almost 1,000 across the UK.

The University of Wolverhampton has appointed a new Apprenticeship Development Manager in its drive towards providing higher and degree apprenticeships. Sharon Thompson, from Fordhouses in Wolverhampton, has taken up the new post and is based in the University’s new £500,000 Apprenticeship Hub, the former Four Feathers Pub in Molineux Street. With a career in the public sector of more than 30 years Sharon has a wealth of experience and has worked locally and nationally on skills and apprenticeships with Walsall Training & Enterprise Council, the Learning & Skills Council and more recently in the National Office of the Skills Funding Agency.

Unemployed Wolverhampton residents can now get on the fast track to jobs in the security sector. City of Wolverhampton Council, Bilston Resource Centre, and the Department for Work and Pensions, have teamed up with employers GMS Security Services Ltd, K2 Security and Cardinal Security, who are offering guaranteed interviews for participants on the programme. Participants will gain skills on the three-week programme and the opportunity to gain accredited training to door supervisor Level 2, emergency first aid, customer service skills, and employability skills.

The University of Wolverhampton Race Team (UWR) is gearing up for the new race season – and it’s hoping to drive up interest in its range of engineering courses at Europe’s largest Motorsport show. The team of engineering students, alongside staff, will be manning the largest educational stand at the Autosport International Show being held at the National Exhibition Centre on Thursday 12^th January until Sunday 15^th January 2017.

Teenagers aged between 14 and 19 are invited to a careers event in West Bromwich. The Connexions New Year, New Start event is at Sandwell College's Central Sixth campus in New Street between 10am and 2pm on Saturday 21 January. It’s a chance for young people to discuss what they want to do after school or college. Around 45 colleges, universities, apprenticeship and training providers, employers and professions including law and accountancy will be there.

Walsall College currently has over 90 live apprenticeship vacancies and is inviting students across the borough, looking to get on the career ladder, to come along to its Apprenticeship Jobs Fair on Saturday 14 January, 10am-2pm. Students will have the chance to find out more about the opportunities available and apply for vacancies at the event, which is being held at the college’s Wisemore Campus.