On Thursday, January 30th, 2025, Witton Lodge Community Association (WLCA) demonstrated its unwavering commitment to local economic development by hosting an impressive Jobs Fair at St Barnabas Church in Erdington.

The first of three Jobs Fairs for 2025, the January event was a resounding success, bringing together a total of 23 stakeholders to meet residents from across the local area in search of employment or up skilling. The organisations that attended included 17 employers with multiple live employment opportunities across a range of sectors including office, retail, warehouse, and construction.

Strategic Impact

Led by the dynamic Employment and Skills Team of Marcia Lewis and Dellano Lewis, the event provided a crucial platform for local residents to explore career pathways and professional development opportunities. Marcia, WLCA’s Employment and Enterprise Advisor, shared her excitement about the event: “The demand for these events is increasing year on year and we are thrilled to be supporting local residents with employment and training opportunities in the heart of their community. We are also absolutely delighted that we already have one local jobseeker who secured an interview at the event, was successfully hired and will be starting with their new employer in March.”

Success stories like these underscore the critical importance of employment and skills services throughout North Birmingham. It’s vital to recognise the strong partnerships cultivated which are instrumental in the success of these initiatives. By working collaboratively, we prioritise the residents of North Birmingham, delivering essential programmes and support that not only transform individual lives but also positively impact the community and local economy as a whole. We are proud that this collaborative approach ensures that resources are effectively utilised and tailored to meet the specific needs of the area, fostering a stronger, more resilient North Birmingham.”

North Birmingham Economic Recovery Board

The WLCA employment delivery programme significantly supports the work we do with the North Birmingham Economic Recovery (NBER) Board. A vital resource to bolster the North Birmingham economy, the NBER benefits from cross-party political support and brings together the expertise, skills and knowledge of some of the City’s foremost employers, training providers, community organisations and public agencies.

Since 2022/23 through AEB delivery of skills and learning we have secured over £15 million in investment, supported 8,000 residents—two thirds of whom are aged between 24 and 49 —and helped over 1,000 people into work. We have also enrolled 1,500 residents in gateway courses, linking them to jobs, and supported major employment with substantial recruitment drives such as at Amazon’s Peddimore site.

NBER Chair and Erdington MP Paulette Hamilton recently addressed Parliament, highlighting the significant impact of the NBER board and its efforts to support Erdington constituents in securing meaningful employment.

Future Initiatives

The Jobs Fairs are part of WLCA’s ambitious 2025 Employment and Skills strategy, which included a high-profile ministerial visit by Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, and the launch of a pioneering Enterprise Support Programme to empower entrepreneurs and job seekers

Building on our success start to 2025, we have already scheduled two additional Jobs Fairs for 2025 on June 26th, 2025 and 9th October 2025. Make a note of the dates and look out for further information soon.

Whether you’re a job seeker, employer, or training provider, WLCA continues to be a beacon of opportunity in North Birmingham, transforming the local economic landscape one Jobs Fair at a time.