Mayor sees training as a crucial work in progress

WEST Midlands Mayor Richard Parker says he has hit an ambitious target to help more than 50,000 people in the region gain new skills in his first year.

- GURDIP THANDI

Mr Parker set the target of giving at least 55,000 people job skills of training after he was elected in May last year as part of a drive to help thousands into work or change careers and move into areas such as construction, digital and green industries.

He said one of the driving forces behind this was the region’s unemployment levels which, in some areas, was double the national average.