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“We are focused on making a difference to Birmingham and the West Midlands. Everyone is welcome, along with their different life skills and experience. We are looking for great people to be part of a great Games.” Ladwa has identified a number of core attributes that are, if not compulsory, highly desirable in candidates. While a love of sport would be great, he says what he is looking for is “passion”: “Passion for the Games, passion for community and a passion to deliver a successful Games.” While raising awareness of the Games, especially among people who may not have heard of them or know anything about the Games, is vital, Ladwa says it is also about inspiring them to apply for roles. “That is already proving effective,” he says, “because a lot of individuals in the community have a passion for sport for starters, they have a passion for the West Midlands and a passion to be drawn in to something where they have a connection.” The ‘local jobs for local people’ message is one that clearly resonates with Challis, who explains that the focus on local talent incorporates not only how roles are advertised and marketed but also “being agile in understanding the extent of any gaps in that marketing, or in a particular demographic or geography.”
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Commonwealth Games key facts ● First held in 1930, Birmingham 2022 will be the 22nd Commonwealth Games.
● Held every four years, the Commonwealth Games are often referred to as the ‘Friendly Games’. ● Para-sports are fully integrated into the Birmingham 2022 sports programme. ● At the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games around 1.2 million ticket were sold. ● 71 nations and territories are eligible to participate. ● Around 6,500 athletes and officials are expected. ● Population of Birmingham and wider metropolitan area is 4.3m.
Right skillsets However, Sam Vaughan, Gi Group programme manager for the Games, acknowledges that it won’t be easy to balance the desire to hire locals against the skill levels and experience of someone who is not a local, but might have may have worked at Commonwealth Games in Scotland, for example. “It’s coming up with a shortlist that represents both skill and location,” he explains. That said, Ladwa acknowledges that there will be some
roles where because of the specific skill set required, it will be necessary to source talent from outside the UK. In addition to working with Jobcentre Plus, apprenticeships will be a key component of upskilling local people, along with work experience, as well as supporting people through workshops. However, when it comes to building that all-important employment legacy on which the Birmingham Games will undoubtedly be judged, Ladwa says that whether people take up jobs working for the Games themselves or are able to take up jobs elsewhere is in a sense immaterial. “The key point is that any contact we have with people leaves some sort of mark on those individuals to improve their skillset and build their confidence in some way shape or form so they are better able to apply for jobs,” he says. As part of the drive to build an employment legacy that is inclusive, Ladwa says the Games is a Disability Confident employer, so people with a disability who meet the minimum job requirements will be guaranteed an interview. No specific targets have been set at this time for particular minority or disadvantaged groups; however, it remains a subject under discussion. Even when the Games are over and the athletes have gone home, the efforts to build Birmingham 2022’s employment legacy will continue, with Gi Group contracted to provide outplacement support to the Games’ own staff. At the time of speaking to Ladwa and his Gi Group colleagues, there were still 826 days to go until the Birmingham Commonwealth Games opens. While that might seem a long way off, Ladwa knows that every second of every one of those days counts if he and his team are to deliver the talent needed for a successful Commonwealth Games. “We haven’t got the luxury of time,” Ladwa says. “The Games are happening, the clock is ticking.” ●
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