Children are being invited to get creative as part of a competition launched by the Midland Metro Alliance.

Members of the alliance’s Engagement and Skills Team have set up the Careers in Construction contest to help encourage school children to be a part of the Metro extension works currently taking place in Birmingham city centre.

Schools in Birmingham are being asked to create their image of a construction worker and the top five creations will be featured on hoarding panels for the Birmingham Westside Metro extension. Competition winners will then be invited to see their artwork on display.

Rose Rees, Head of Engagement and Skills at the Midland Metro Alliance, said: “The competition is a great way for children to be a part of the Westside Metro extension works currently underway in the city centre. We have written to all schools in Birmingham asking them to be involved. There is a misconception among many people that the construction industry is made up of one type of demographic, however, there are plenty of opportunities in the light rail sector for everyone and we would encourage school children to incorporate that into their designs. We look forward to seeing all of the competition entries.”

As well as keeping stakeholders close to the construction site up-to-date with the progress of the project, the alliance’s Engagement and Skills Team collaborate with educational institutes across the West Midlands sharing careers advice and helping to inspire the next generation of engineers and construction workers. More information on this work can be found at https://metroalliance.co.uk/careers/

Schools interested in taking part will need to register their interest by emailing communications@metroalliance.co.uk by Monday 2 March.

When the route opens to the public in 2021 three new tram stops will follow from the current Library terminus, connecting passengers to Brindleyplace, Five Ways and Hagley Road.

West Midlands Metro services will then operate between Wolverhampton and Hagley Road in Edgbaston, improving transport links across Birmingham and parts of the Black Country, making journeys faster and more accessible, in turn helping businesses and supporting more jobs.

The extension is being planned, designed and delivered by the Midland Metro Alliance on behalf of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). It forms part of the WMCA’s ambitious plan to regenerate the region, providing new opportunities for residents and businesses by transforming public transport in Birmingham city centre.