Personal account
For registration, talent pool, job alerts and applications.
---
Existing user
Already registered? Log in or update your profile.
Key employers
Working in the West Midlands
The West Midlands is located in the centre of England and comprises the counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, and the boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. Due to its location, it is within easy access of other UK destinations (see ‘Living in the West Midlands’ page for more information).
There are just under 2.5 million people employed in the West Midlands, with managers, professionals and technical staff accounting for 37% of the region’s skills base.
The region leads nationally on many employment sectors:
Outside of London, Birmingham (at the heart of the West Midlands) has the largest, and fastest growing business and professional service sector in the UK. The region’s ICT sector, currently growing at a rate of 20% per annum, is the recognised centre of the UK software industry. The region has one of the most advanced telecommunication networks in Europe with Birmingham currently being the only UK city with 100% coverage of a self-healing fibre optic network. This enables businesses who are dependent on IT, to enjoy more efficient and reliable communications.
The West Midlands is known, internationally, for its expertise in transport technologies, with 30% of all cars produced in the UK being made in Birmingham and Coventry. It is the centre of the UK transport industry and is the base for operations by some of the world’s largest transport manufacturers. The region is home to the UK’s motorsport industry, known as Motorsport Valley, which is situated in Warwickshire. Sir Frank Whittle, the inventor of the jet engine, was born in Coventry, as was Robert Jones who designed the first black cab.
It is not only Birmingham and Coventry which are home to leading manufacturers but many other areas of the region too. Herefordshire is home to Bulmers; Mullers is located in Shropshire, of which Market Drayton is one of its towns. 30% of the UK’s milk production lies within a 50-mile radius of Market Drayton.
The West Midlands was the birthplace of the industrial revolution, and the area still has the highest proportion of manufacturing companies in the UK, employing 15% of all people working in this sector.
Employment in the region is growing with 2006/07 attracting 97 inward investments from 22 different countries, creating 2,500 new jobs and safeguarding almost 12,000 more.
Local Government in the West Midlands - There are 38 local authorities within the West Midlands region, details of which can be found on the West Midlands LGA website.