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The GMB union has hit out at Birmingham City Council after it was toldup to 430 staff are to be made redundant.

The staff affected include those working for the Connexions Service, which provides direct support to 13 to 19-year-olds by giving access to further education, modern apprenticeships and universities as well as supporting young people in a move from education to employment. Connexions Services works closely with colleges, employers and Job Centre Plus.

Birmingham City Council confirmed that Connexions will be one of the services up for review following the government’s latest round of public sector cuts.

A spokesman from Birmingham City Council said: “Following the government’s reduction of the area based grant, the immediate impact of this for the Children, Young People and Families directorate is a potential loss of £6.131m to be achieved by the end of November this year, and a greater loss at the end of the financial year.

“Therefore, the directorate has formally given notice of a 90 day consultation process on the future of these services and the employees concerned.”

Leonard Haye, GMB workplace organiser at Birmingham Connexions, said: "These kind of cuts to the Connexions service will directly affect the future of the city's young adults with nowhere to go in accessing help to making key decisions in relation to jobs and learning and with no access to quality career advice and guidance."

Roger Jenkins, GMB regional organiser, said that this was "the worst time" to cut these services from the public sector and would leave young people with "no hope or direction". He added: "Once again we see local authorities cutting frontline services with no concern as to the affects on the people of Birmingham. At a time when cuts are being made in further education and unemployment is rising our young people need advice and guidance more than ever."