Birmingham 2022 speaker tells UCB students about thousands of opportunities to get involved in Commonwealth Games

Students at University College Birmingham had the chance to learn about exciting work opportunities for the city's upcoming Commonwealth Games as part of a conference event at UCB.

James Walsh, Head of Legacy and Engagement on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games organising committee, spoke to students at Summer Row as part of the Inspire Conference held by the College of Food and Hospitality Management in September.

Around 41,000 games-time roles are expected to be created for the Games over the next three years, ranging from hospitality and retail to finance and logistics.

"We're really keen to work with universities and colleges, especially if we can support students during their studies," said James. "There are huge opportunities for placements to potentially help students.

"Many of the courses at UCB are really transferable in terms of the roles we're creating, such as sports, hospitality management, marketing management and events.

"If you’ve got a CV at the end of your studies that says you volunteered at the Commonwealth Games, employers will be impressed."

The roles are anticipated to include a range of apprenticeships, internships, placements, graduate positions, full and part-time operational roles and supply chain roles.

Around 10,000 volunteers are also expected to be required, with support planned to help them find further opportunities after the Games.

With an estimated £300m worth of contracts to be awarded in connection with the Games, there will also be a focus on awarding work to local businesses and recruiting people from Birmingham and the West Midlands area.

"The key thing for us is making sure students know about the opportunities that exist in the city in the coming three years, how to access them and register interest, and to get them excited about the prospect of the Games coming to the city," said James.

"Although we are still just under three years to go, the opportunities for your courses are already there."

The Inspire Conference also featured a number of ex-UCB students who discussed their journeys as professionals within the food and hospitality industry.

It was the latest event enabling UCB students to learn more about opportunities surrounding the Commonwealth Games, with a number of students having taken part in a pilot project earlier this year aimed at inspiring young people to become ambassadors for Birmingham ahead of the Games.

If you are interested in getting involved in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham or are considering a career in the hospitality, events and sports sectors, UCB offers a wide range of work placements and opportunities for you to gain valuable industry experience. To find out more, visit our hired@UCB employability, careers and placements service.

You can find out more about vacancies and voluntary opportunities related to the Commonwealth Games and register your interest in getting involved via the Birmingham 2022 website.

Find out more about our range of courses within the College of Food and Hospitality Management here. You can also follow the latest updates from the school on Twitter.