'I finally got a chance after job search struggle'

Nineteen-year-old Ben Challice says he was beginning to lose hope after years of applying for jobs and hearing nothing back.

Despite wanting to work, he found himself repeatedly rejected or overlooked, with difficulty affording tools and his GCSE results making it hard to get a foot in the door.

"It was very difficult, since from the age of 16 I was looking for a job and when I was submitting my CV online, it's like they didn't want to know," he said.

Everything changed after a three-week placement at a local garage through the West Midlands Combined Authority's Trailblazer fund. He has now been taken on permanently as an apprentice.

A year after his placement, Challice is spending his days servicing vehicles, diagnosing faults and learning increasingly advanced mechanical skills alongside experienced technicians.

"The apprenticeship took me on and gave me a benefit of the doubt, I'm [now] getting money in my pocket which goes towards me getting tools each week to do different jobs."

He said the opportunity had transformed his confidence. As well as earning a wage, he has been able to buy his own tools and build the foundations of a career in the motor trade.

"This has been an amazing life changer because for one year now, I would have still been looking for jobs. I've learned so much."

He praised the garage staff for supporting him and said someone simply giving him a chance had made all the difference.

"I'd say to anyone young person give it a go, it might change their lives and make a difference."

His experience reflects a wider challenge facing young people across the West Midlands.

Latest figures show more than 92,000 people aged between 16 and 24 in the region are not in employment, education or training (Neet), the fifth-highest rate in the UK.

The West Midlands Combined Authority says its Trailblazer programme has helped around 1,500 young people into paid work over the past year by working with employers to provide work experience and employment opportunities. Funding has now been secured for the scheme to continue for another year.

Many young people report submitting dozens of job applications without hearing back or reaching only the interview stage.

Mercedes Green had been applying for teaching assistant roles in the region.

"When I applied, I wasn't getting anything back because I had no experience or no professional qualifications in teaching."

Amy Hutton said she had had the same experience, adding: "It's discouraging because it makes you feel like there's no point really applying."

Challice is one of 1,500 people to benefit from the £5m youth trailblazer fund in the past year. Of those who have been part of the scheme, 373 are no longer classed as NEET.

"Those 373 are a great success and those others have been captured in the system [so] we can do more work to support those young people," said David Gaughan from the combined authority.

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