Birmingham is putting up an ‘invisible wall’
Talented Birmingham school leavers are missing out on careers in professional services because of an ‘invisible wall’ around the business district, according to a panel of experts at a debate held in the city. The issue was raised at a discussion led by Birmingham Future, the voice of young professionals in the city, which debated the blockages that prevent many children in deprived areas from achieving their potential in the professional services sector. Dr Derrick Campbell of Race Equality Sandwell said: “There are two Birminghams in existence: the set that want to fly the flag and the group that are at risk of being left behind. Unless we focus on repairing the holes in society, we won’t be able to move forward as a city.” Amanda Porter, chairman of Birmingham Future and a senior solicitor with city law firm Mills and Reeve, said: “There is a lot of evidence to show that children base their future expectations of a city on their current experience of it. It’s important for the future of Birmingham that, as we take the city forward, no one gets left behind.”
