Tomorrow’s talent

[prev] …say they have issues finding the right people with the right skills to fill their vacancies. This is an issue across all sectors. The festival offers the chance to address this head on by enabling companies to talk directly to the young people attending about the range of jobs in their sector and the kinds of skills they’re looking for. They can help to have a direct influence on the choices young people take. It essentially introduces businesses to their pipeline of future recruits.’

The festival is a rare opportunity for employers and potential employees to come face to face and engage in frank discussions about the needs of business

With 5,000 young people expected to attend, the festival is a rare opportunity for employers and potential employees to come face to face and engage in frank discussions about the needs of business. ‘A lot of businesses tell me they have some really interesting vacancies but can find it difficult to recruit young people because there may be an impression about what these sectors are about,’ continues Sue. ‘If you take engineering as an example, lots of firms in the sector tell me they simply don’t get enough applicants to fill their advertised jobs or apprenticeships. This is because young people have a misconception about what modern engineering is. The Careers Festival is a chance for them to showcase the types of jobs they have.’

There is still time for local businesses of all kinds to get involved if they haven’t done so already. Sue and her team are looking for volunteers to staff a CV and interview boot camp to advise students on what should and shouldn’t be in their CV and to brush up their presentation skills ready for the jobs market. There’s even a Dragons’ Den-style area where young people with business ideas can pitch to a panel for feedback – potential Dragons are still welcome!

The Careers Festival will host plenty of food and drink outlets selling at discounted prices with live music performed throughout the day

Other opportunities include judging of the skills competitions, which this year features glamorous hairdressing, media make-up with a zombie theme and a carpentry skills contest. ‘In addition, if businesses want to suggest particular “have a go” activities related to their sector we would love to hear from them,’ adds Sue. Final details will be required as soon as possible to give enough time to design and print the festival brochure.

It’s not all business, business, business, though. The Careers Festival will host plenty of food and drink outlets selling at discounted prices with live music performed throughout the day on the big Purple Stage from the Willow Festival. Who ever said careers couldn’t be fun?

For more information, including contact details and to see a video of last
year’s event made by students from Ormiston Bushfield Academy in Ortongate, visit www.theskillsservice.co.uk/events/careersfestival-2014