Solihull College & University Centre is set to launch a new initiative designed to tackle employment barriers for young people with neurodiverse conditions and low-level mental health needs in the region.
The Inclusive Work Readiness Accelerator Programme (IWRAP), funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), aims to create a more inclusive employment landscape and support young individuals in transitioning into meaningful work.
IWRAP will focus on two key pathways: student readiness and employer engagement. The student readiness pathway will provide personalised transition plans, soft skills workshops, workplace simulation labs, and pairing with job coaches and mentors. This tailored support is designed to build confidence and practical experience for young people as they prepare to enter the workforce.
The employer engagement pathway aims to build inclusive workplace environments which includes workshops on neurodiversity awareness, mental health support strategies, and inclusive recruitment practices. A unique aspect will be ‘reverse mentoring,’ where neurodiverse students share insights with employers to foster a deeper understanding of their needs.
IWRAP directly addresses the challenges faced by young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as a lack of specialist employment support, limited employer awareness of reasonable adjustments, and difficulties in accessing tailored careers advice.
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “This revolutionary scheme is changing the future for young people with neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health needs by providing individual training and employment support – bridging the gap between education and securing a stable job.
I want to make sure every young person succeeds, no matter where they start, and this programme helps me tackle youth unemployment and ensure no young person is left behind.”
Students will have the opportunity to take part in tailored work experience opportunities and will be paired with employers on the employer engagement pathway. Benefits include increased confidence levels and valuable work experience to improve their employability.
Employers will gain increased awareness and confidence in hiring and retaining neurodiverse talent, ultimately fostering more inclusive workplace cultures. The programme is expected to deliver personalised transition plans for all participants, increase self-reported confidence levels, and achieve successful work placements for at least 75% of participants.
For parents and carers, this programme provides confidence that there are specialised opportunities available to those young people with neurodiverse conditions or low mental health needs. Following promotion of the event, a College student, also a parent of a grown-up child with Autism, commented, “I am the parent of a son who has Aspergers Syndrome. I wanted to applaud you for this incentive as my son did not get this opportunity in the ’90s when he left school.
Neurodiverse conditions all have particular challenges and if you can accommodate all of these, as individuals, you will succeed. Needs are so complex it can be a minefield.”
The IWRAP programme is set to conclude by the end of October 2025 and will be delivered in collaboration with other colleges in the WMCA local authority area, including BMet, Coventry College, Dudley College, Sandwell College, South & City College, Walsall College and Wolverhampton College, ensuring a broad regional impact.
