Eleven Apprentices Start Work on Birmingham 2022

The first eleven apprentices recruited by the organisers of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have been settling into their new roles which will see them play a key part in helping to organise the biggest event ever to be held in the West Midlands.

The new recruits, who are all from the Midlands, are the first cohort of the 29 apprentices who will work on the Games. They were selected after 3,000 people applied to be part of the Birmingham 2022 apprenticeship scheme which was launched in September last year.

The first apprentices started their roles in January and are now working in various areas of the business including finance, ticketing, event services and security.

Speaking on behalf of all of the apprentices, Lewis Cooper, who has joined the Birmingham 2022 team as an Event Services Coordinator, said: “This is such an amazing opportunity and I couldn’t believe it when I found out that I had been given a place on the Birmingham 2022 apprenticeship scheme.

“I’ve been a sports fan all my life so to be given this chance to work on a huge, global multi-sports event like this, and to get the chance to complete my apprenticeship whilst I am working, is incredible.”

John Crabtree, Chairman of Birmingham 2022 said: “It has been a pleasure to welcome our new apprentices and we are looking forward to working with them as they become embedded in the wider team.

“Quite clearly the pandemic has made it increasingly challenging for people to access both training and employment opportunities – this was very clear from the incredibly high number of applications we received for these roles.  We are more determined than ever to exploit the Games in every possible way to address this challenge and we remain focused on ensuring that all our projects are linked to as many of our Midlands people and businesses as possible.”

The apprentices will be supported during their time with Birmingham 2022 by Gi Group, the Official Recruiter for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Paulo Canoa, CEO for Gi Group UK, said: “We are immensely proud to be supporting the apprentices recruited by Birmingham 2022 throughout their apprenticeship programme. Not only do the apprentices have a once in the lifetime opportunity to be part of such a significant global event, completing their apprenticeships provides them with the skills and experience to go on and have thriving careers.”

Key partners for Birmingham 2022 have also welcomed the apprenticeship scheme. Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage said: “It is fantastic that these local apprentices can develop their skills working on the biggest event ever held in the West Midlands. Birmingham 2022 is creating thousands of new job opportunities across the region, and this scheme is a great example of how the Games is providing the skills and confidence people need to succeed in the job market.”

Councillor Jayne Francis, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture for Birmingham City Council said: “This is a clear demonstration of why Birmingham 2022 is more than 11 days of sport – the event is providing opportunities for people to shape and develop their careers.

“I wish all of the apprentices that come on board well and am sure their enthusiasm and fresh perspectives will be an asset for the team delivering the Games.”

The next 18 recruits will start work in the coming weeks and they will be part of the 1,200 strong workforce employed by Birmingham 2022. Around 250 people have already been given jobs working for the company that is responsible for delivering the Games and new roles are being added to the official jobs website every week.

Current roles that are being advertised include a copywriter, an administrator and a graphic designer – go to birmingham2022.gigroup.com/ to find out more.