Employers share expertise with young people at Careers Fair
Hundreds of school and college students visited Furness College’s annual Careers Fair to get advice about future employment and next steps this week.
More than 50 exhibitors ranging from global companies to small businesses, charities and universities attended the event organised at the Channelside campus.
The college teamed up with Inspira to put on the Valentine’s day-themed event inviting Year 10 and Year 11 pupils to find their perfect career match.
Sectors included healthcare, childcare and education, nuclear, engineering, construction, tourism, retail, business and hospitality as well as training providers.
Janet Gilmore, Personal Assistant, from Orsted, said the Careers Fair gave them a great opportunity to meet with young people and talk to them about what they can offer.
“It’s really nice to engage with the young people and be able to highlight the opportunities for them within offshore wind,” she said.
In addition to employers and training providers in attendance there we also a number of universities.
Lancaster University student recruitment assistant George Johnson said the Careers Fair offers the exhibitors a rewarding experience to expand the knowledge of young people.
“It gives you, as an exhibitor, a good feeling to be able to give the young people new ideas and pathways which they haven’t even thought about until they talked to you. It enables them to discover something new.”
Staff and students from the college’s Channelside and Rating Lane campuses, as well as the Students’ Union, were on hand to talk about career routes, apprenticeships, sixth form and degree courses.
Sarah Carter, Furness College’s Student Services Lead, said the Careers Fair gave a great insight into the wide range of careers and opportunities readily available to people.
“We are delighted at the range of employers and training providers who turned up to share advice and expertise with our young people. It was great to see the job prospects available here for students and also progression to university.”
Lauren Jackson, Local Employment Engagement Coordinator at Inspira, said: “Today's event has been a brilliant example of the local community pulling together to provide good quality, careers advice and guidance for the young people of Furness.
“We at Inspira were really impressed at the calibre of young people who attended the event and the questions and engagement from not only Furness College students but those from the local schools too.
“We want to say a huge thank you to all the employers, providers and charities that attended and made today such a brilliant event.”
If you would like to know how to get involved in future events with young people then please contact Lauren Jackson at Inspira for more details.