Stirchley man designs his future
Vincent Cummins, 26 from Stirchley, Birmingham is looking forward to a bright future after landing his dream job with help from the Government’s Future Jobs Fund.
Vincent was unemployed for over 10 months and struggling to find suitable opportunities before finding a job as a Creative Sector Assistant with West Midlands Creative Alliance, at The Custard Factory. The opportunity for Vincent was created after the Be Birmingham Partnership successfully won Future Jobs Fund funding to create 2000 new jobs in the Birmingham area for young unemployed people.
Commenting on his new job, Vincent said: “When my adviser at Selly Oak Jobcentre Plus told me about the vacancy with the Creative Alliance I was really interested as it’s the sector I want to get into. I was over the moon when I heard I’d got the job. My adviser was even able to help me out with funding for smart work clothes and my first months travel expenses.”
Vincent is one of the first people in Birmingham to be helped by the government scheme, which is providing up to £1bn to create 100,000 employment opportunities across the country for eligible jobseekers. His new job means Vincent is able to get training and real work experience in the Creative Industry, a sector in which he hopes to find permanent employment as a Game designer.
Employment Minister Jim Knight commented: "Congratulations to Vincent on his new job and to Be Birmingham for their work in Backing Young Britain. The opportunities being created by the Future Jobs Fund in Birmingham are helping give the city’s young people the opportunity for a bright future.”
Anna Field, programme manager at Creative Alliance said: "We were really impressed by Vincent's enthusiasm and commitment both at interview and since he started work with us. He's making great progress and the training and experience he gains here will give him a real advantage in finding the career he's looking for within the creative industry in the future."
Ian Ellis, Be Birmingham's Future Jobs Fund manager, said: "We're delighted that Vincent has got this opportunity to help him develop a career in the creative sector. By working with our partners we have already matched hundreds of young people with job vacancies created by the Future Jobs Fund and this number is growing all the time."
Notes to editors:
- For more information on Backing Young Britain please visit http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/backingyoungbritain/
- The Future Jobs Fund will provide funding for 150,000 jobs – 100,000 for young people and 50,000 for unemployment hotspots.
- Around £1 billion has been allocated to the Future Jobs Fund.
- Bids to the Future Jobs Fund can be submitted at any time.
- Organisations can visit www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund to express interest in bidding for jobs.
- Be Birmingham is managing the Future Jobs Fund programme as part of the City Region of Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country’s successful bid with Birmingham City Council as the accountable body.
- West Midlands Creative Alliance (www.creativealliance.org.uk) is a group of experienced arts professionals working collaboratively to develop, support and train new and emerging creative talent.
