Witton Lodge is proud to celebrate the resounding success of the three jobs fairs we delivered in 2025 which secured work for 20 Erdington job seekers.

The fairs, held twice at St Barnabas Church on Erdington High Street and at Perry Common Community Hall, attracted more than 300 people in need of employment, skills and training support.

The Power of Partnership

The success of the fairs is also a tribute to the power of community partnership with over 30 stakeholders taking part to promote their vacancies and opportunities to the public.

Marcia Lewis, Employment and Enterprise Advisor at Witton Lodge, coordinated the fairs to provide people with a vital springboard to employment. She praised organisations for the impact of their collaboration and engagement.

“The statistics speak volumes about the positive impact these type of events have,” she said.

“Across our three fairs, we were very proud to welcome over 300 people, a fantastic turnout that shows the strong appetite in our community for people seeking out new opportunities.

“This kind of engagement confirms that bringing employers and training providers together into the heart of our community is a successful model for breaking down barriers to employment.

A team effort

“A huge part of this success is down to the incredible support from our partners, particularly the NHS, HS2, Growth Path and Balfour Beatty. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the stakeholders who committed their time and resources. It’s always wonderful to see such a diverse mix of employers, training providers and support organisations working together to help Erdington’s job seekers.”

Ultimately, the most important aspect of the success of these fairs has been in transforming people’s lives through securing employment.

“We are delighted to confirm that, as a result of these fairs, 20 people are now in employment and training and several more have taken up volunteering opportunities,” added Marcia.

“This is the true measure of our success. Twenty individuals have taken a significant step forward in their careers and are now building a brighter future for themselves and their families.”

These jobs fairs have become a mainstay in the Witton Lodge calendar. They are coordinated and delivered to inform and inspire job seekers; providing people with a pathway to their next (or their first) role.

“The team at Witton Lodge remains committed to delivering these crucial events and continuing to bridge the gap between job seekers and employers in our area,” added Marcia.

“We look forward to building on the momentum achieved this year and achieving even greater things in 2026.”

If you’re a job seeker in need of employment support or an organisation keen to explore the potential of collaboration opportunities to connect with and support Erdington job seekers, please reach out to Marcia Lewis on 0121 382 1930 or email: Marcia.lewis@wittonlodge.org.uk