The Mayor has announced an additional 10,000 EV charging points will be built in the West Midlands 🔋 LEVI funding will provide more chargers and help reach net zero by 2041 💚 Over the past year, the region has seen a 36% increase in charging points 🔌

Richard met young people at Xcelerate with Edgbaston alongside Skills Minister Jacqui Smith. Xcelerate is a community learning hub aiming to boost a million career prospects by 2030 💼 So far, they’ve trained around 3,500 people - including Kundai, a Path 2 Apprenticeships participant 💪

"The uptake on the free travel has been fantastic, but we still need to do more to make the region's buses work better for local people." 🗣️ Richard on the Passenger Incentive Programme passing five million bus journeys in its first year 🚌 Read more: www.wmca.org.uk/news/mayor-s...

Wolverhampton will play host to the next Ask The Mayor 🗣️ 📅 Tuesday 29th April 📍 Mander Centre Community Hub, WV1 3NH 🎟️👇

Electric cargo vehicles are on trial at the University of Warwick that could replace petrol and diesel delivery vans 🚎 Funding from the West Midlands Innovation Programme is being used by the Last Mile Logistics Project to run tests 🔋

The West Midlands Innovation Accelerator is getting a funding boost 💰 The additional £10 million will support even more of the region’s innovative businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs to grow the economy 🧑‍🔬

Richard was in Birmingham to commemorate the end of Ramadan ✨ The annual Eid prayers attract thousands of residents each year 🙏

🗣️ The next Ask The Mayor instalment is coming to Dudley! 📅 Tuesday 1st April ⏰ 6-7pm 📍 Black Country Living Museum, DY1 4AL 🎟️ 👇

💼 The Mayor visited Colebridge Trust, who have helped 500 people gain confidence and skills needed to secure jobs and training opportunities. 🤝 The Trust has employed over 45 people from the local area, some who have faced challenges in the job market.

🏡 A programme to upgrade some of the region’s dampest social housing will help improve the lives of thousands of families faced with a potential health hazard. 👥 The £15m Social Housing Decency Fund has made 8,000 individual improvements across the West Midlands. 👇 Details

🧱 Thousands of bricks have been donated to provide Walsall College students with hands-on experience 💪 Persimmon Homes have committed to strengthening the industry’s future workforce

🗣️ "It is essential that we develop these sites, attracting investors and growing industries, to reignite the economic growth this region has long been waiting for." 📈 The Mayor on securing additional funding for three investment zones.

A new £100m manufacturing and logistics hub in Walsall will create around 1,000 jobs once completed 🔧

🗣️ “The next two weeks are packed with even more incredible opportunities for businesses to connect and collaborate with each other and help drive our economy to the next level.” 💼 Richard Parker on the launch of the West Midlands Business Festival.

💼 Young people who are not in education, employment, or training are set to benefit from a new scheme designed to get them into work. 🆕 YouthPath will work alongside businesses to create career opportunities for the region’s young people.

You have until 5 March to recommend individual learners, educators, learning providers or employers for recognition at this year's Adult Learning Awards 🏆

A £21m funding package from the Government will improve cycling and walking routes in the West Midlands 🚶

The Mayor has secured funding worth filling 88,000 potholes across the West Midlands 🛣️

"This strategy marks the start of a new era of cleaner, more resilient and cheaper energy supplies to help our residents and businesses." The Mayor on the new Regional Energy Strategy⚡️

🗣️ “This redevelopment, backed by West Midlands Combined Authority investment, will ensure Edgbaston continues to attract top-tier cricket, thousands of visitors every year, and more jobs for local people.” 🏏 The Mayor on the confirmed redevelopment at Edgbaston Stadium👇

A historical site in Wolverhampton will see the creation of 93 social homes 🏠 Part funded by @WestMids_CA, the former SJ Dixon & Son premises will be converted to help address the housing shortage 👇

Construction has started on a brownfield site in Wolverhampton that will be transformed into over 530 energy-efficient homes, complemented by a range of new commercial and community amenities 🏠 The West Midlands Combined Authority has invested £20m into the scheme 👇

The next Ask the Mayor event is coming to Solihull 🚨 Your chance to talk about Richard's policies and priorities takes place on Wednesday 25th February at Solihull College Business Centre. 🎟️ 👇

🏠 A £167 million energy efficiency fund will upgrade up to 10,000 of the oldest and coldest social, and privately-owned, homes in the region to make them warmer and cheaper to run. 👇More on the story below.

The Mayor has appointed more than 50 experts to help deliver his four key priorities: Jobs, Journeys, Homes and Growth. The four dedicated taskforces of experts will provide insights, challenge ideas and help make a real difference to people’s lives in the West Midlands.

🎭 Laura and Tegan secured apprenticeships at Birmingham Hippodrome after completing a Creative Venue Technician Bootcamp training course at Solihull College. 🤩 They are now working alongside Alison Hammond.

🚗 Richard recently visited JLR to see how they are training young people. 🧑‍🔧 He met a Jack, an apprentice, and found out more about the difference it his making to his own professional development.

The Mayor has welcomed recent figures revealing more than 43,000 people in the region have been given job training in the last eight months. Tackling unemployment, especially amongst young people, is one of Richard’s four key priorities.

The Mayor has today launched a consultation on bus franchising – a plan to improve reliability, routes & fares for the West Midlands network. Over the next 3 months, the public are being asked to give their views on Richard’s plan for a franchised bus network.

The season of giving 💛 The Mayor recently handed several sacks of toys, donated by West Midlands Combined Authority staff, to @cashforkids.bsky.social Mission Christmas 🎁

Richard is live! 🚨 Call in with your questions to 08081 00 99 56. Listen live 👇

Richard will be taking your questions on BBC West Midlands hot seat later this morning🎙️ Ask your questions on 08081 00 99 56. You can listen live 👉 www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

🗣️ Richard said: “Helping people gain the skills to secure well-paid jobs and transform their lives is at the heart of what I’m working to achieve. “The skills bootcamps and training providers in our region are crucial in equipping people to thrive.”

At Coventry College, The Mayor saw how a West Midlands Combined Authority funded insulation bootcamp is helping students gear up for careers in future technology industries. He also met the engineering and retrofit stakeholders and employers collaborating to help maximise learner opportunities.

🗣️ Richard said: “Foundry Park will bring new life to this site and create over 300 much needed jobs for local people. “This modern, environmentally sustainable development will give businesses room to grow and contribute to the community.” More here👇

The Mayor visited the most recent West Midlands Combined Authority invested brownfield site that is set to create over 300 jobs 💼

In Wednesbury, Richard personally paid thanks to Sue Tycer, a Transport for West Midlands employee, who helped a rough sleeper secure permanent accommodation. Find out more about her incredible efforts 👇 www.wmca.org.uk/news/bus-sta...

Richard recently attended an event to mark 100 years of Midland Heart. 🗣️ He said: "Let this celebration inspire us to rise to the challenges of 2024 and beyond, to build homes and communities that offer security and opportunity to everyone." Here's to the next century!

Did you see that the West Midlands is to receive a £5 million boost from the Get Britain Working initiative? This will help bolster career prospects of our region's young people. Find out more 👇 www.wmca.org.uk/news/west-mi...

If you missed it, The Mayor announced free bus travel across the West Midlands! 📅 9th-13th December ⏰ 7pm ℹ️ tfwm.org.uk/freebustravel

🗣️ Richard said: "It can be an expensive time of year, so I hope this free travel offer can make people's money go further and see the benefit of travelling by bus while enjoying what our region has to offer this festive season.” More on the story 👇

Mayor Richard Parker has announced a free travel scheme across the West Midlands. From 7pm on 9th to 13th December, anyone can hop on any bus in the West Midlands for free in a first initiative of its kind. More details can be found here: tfwm.org.uk/freebustravel

In a recent visit to FANUC UK in Coventry, the Mayor was pleased to see the tech firm’s support for upskilling and offering support to young people.

The Mayor spent yesterday morning at The Hawthorns 📍 Firstly, he spoke about boosting prosperity in the region at the #SandwellBusinessGrowth summit ✅ Then, Richard met West Bromwich Albion representatives to discuss matchday improvements ✅

Local organisations like Attic Brew Co. have benefitted from Business Growth West Midlands' Decarbonisation Net Zero programme, after making a 61% saving on annual energy spend. Find out how your business could save money and reduce energy: www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk/support-prog...

Richard recently visited Digbeth Loc. Studios where they are making the new Peaky Blinders film. 🗣️ He said: "I want to make the West Midlands the beating heart of the UK creative economy. That vision means unleashing the talent of our communities."