United Kingdom
Birmingham
The Birmingham City University (BCU) team has chosen case studies in two local regions Birmingham and Worcestershire. The choice was made because the university has close links with the city of Birmingham and the local county of Worcestershire. The choice of regions is driven not only by proximity but also by their distinctness and contrasts. Each region has nationally distinctive issues facing young people who live there and these affect the choices and pathways that affect their transitions between education, training and the workplace.
The link between BCU and Birmingham is perhaps inevitable: many, if not most, of the university’s students are drawn from Birmingham; there are many and increasing links between the university and local social organisations and local enterprises.
Photo by Roger Kidd, geograph.org.uk (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Youth and Diversity in Birmingham
Birmingham is a large and diverse city with a very diverse socio-demographic population. According to the most recent census (2021), 52% of the city’s population is from non-white ethnic groups. The city has one of the largest migrant populations in Europe, with 26.7% of the population being born outside the UK. It is also known as one of the youngest cities in the UK with 40% of its population below the age of 25. 20% of the population was aged under 15 in 2021, which is higher than the national average. The median age is 34 years of age, below the national average of 40.
Evolving Youth Opportunities
Until the 1960s and 70s, there were clearly defined opportunities for young people from many socio-economic backgrounds to follow training paths into apprenticeships in local industry. Birmingham is well known as one of the ‘cradles’ of the industrial revolution and industries dominated the local economy. This industrial base declined during the 1970s and ‘80s and continued thereafter, owing to technological changes and international competition. The city’s economy has transformed over recent decades and is now dominated by the service sector. The city is a major international commercial centre and an important transport, retail, events and conference hub. Its metropolitan economy is thought to be the second largest in the United Kingdom.
Photo: Photo by Scott Webb, Unsplash