June event provides opportunity to showcase commercial centre to next generation

Companies in Colmore Business District have the opportunity to showcase their work to school students from across Birmingham and beyond during a week-long programme of activities in June.

Professional Services Week (PSW) 2019, led by BPS Birmingham and taking place from Monday 24 to Friday 28 June, aims to encourage school students to consider a career in the business, professional and financial services sectors through a series of workplace visits, seminars and workshops.

Professional Services Week, which is now in its fourth year and which is sponsored by DLA Piper, Deloitte and the Greater Birmingham Professional Services Academy and endorsed by the Mayor of the West Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, aims to connect over 2,000 students in year 9 and above with professional firms from across the region.

Last year’s PSW saw 45 schools register to take part, resulting in 2,000 students involved in a range of activities throughout the week at over 40 different professional firms. That number is expected to increase in 2019 as the initiative extends its reach beyond Birmingham into Coventry and Warwickshire and Solihull. This year, schools located in the Black Country will also be able to take part in PSW with buses being laid on to bring students to the Birmingham activities.

Since launching the initiative has helped to raise awareness and interest in business, professional and financial services amongst school children. Over half of those who took part in last year’s event when surveyed, revealed that they would now consider a career in the sector following their workplace visits.

Professional Services Week also provides companies with a positive and coordinated opportunity to engage with local students and schools, many of whom are located in harder to reach wards, presenting a snapshot of working life within the District and the skills required to succeed in professional services sector, and highlighting its economic impact.

As such, the success of the event is dependent upon the support of the professional services community and those wishing to find out more how to get involved can visit the Professional Services Week website or contact enquiries@professionalservicesweek.co.uk.