Visitors flock to skills events
Thousands of visitors have flocked to a series of skills events for people looking at post-16 options in the East Midlands. The events started with the Big Match in Leicestershire at the beginning of September and went on to the Derbyshire Skills Festival at the end of September, rounding up with the What Next event, held in Nottingham in early October.
Results Season Kicks Off with a Big Match
The ‘Big Match’ was the fixture of the season at Leicester City’s Walker’s Stadium in early September for all young people unsure what to do next following their exam results. Organised by LSC Leicestershire, Connexions Leicestershire, Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council, the event received over 300 visitors.
Young people aged 16-19 years who had yet to receive a firm offer of learning or training, or who needed some help to get ready for employment got the chance to meet with organisations including training providers, colleges and sixth-form schools to find out what opportunities are open to them.
Mary Rogers, Area Director, LSC Leicestershire explains: "We organised more than 50 organisations from across Leicestershire to come together to offer help, advice and details of real opportunities to young people looking to make their next move, whether in education or training, or preparing for employment."
Rosemary Beard, Chief Executive, Connexions Leicestershire adds her support: "This can be a very confusing and challenging time for young people. The Big Match brings together all the available options under one roof so that they can get a real flavour of the breadth of opportunities. We hope this event helped them to make up their mind about what to do next."
Derbyshire students take a step forward in deciding their next career move
Over 20,000 Year 11 students and their parents and carers attended the Derbyshire Skills Festival to get help deciding their next career move. The festival took place during September at Queens Park Sports Centre in Chesterfield and over two nights at Pride Park Stadium in Derby.
The event aimed to inform and inspire young people about their future career path, and help them make important decisions about the right route to take once they finished Year 11. Young people who are currently seeking work or training were also invited along to the event to get help finding a suitable opportunity.
The event was organised by the Derbyshire Education Business Partnership (DEBP) and funded by Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council in association with Connexions Derbyshire and the Learning and Skills Council in the East Midlands.
John O’Callaghan, DEBP manager said, "Given the current economic climate and an increasingly competitive job market, the Skills Festival plays a vital role in giving young people the help and support they need to prepare them for the world of work."
Nottingham finds out What’s Next
6,900 students and parents attended the ‘What Next?’ careers and opportunity fair at the Harvey Hadden Sports Centre in Nottingham in October.
‘What Next?’ is Nottinghamshire’s biggest careers and opportunities fair and was organised by Aimhigher Nottinghamshire. There were over 60 exhibitors at the fair which brings together a whole host of schools, colleges, universities, training providers, careers advisers and employers to provide information help and guidance to young people aged 15-18.
Image above: Derbyshire Skills Festival visitors Liam Chorley (15), left, and David Jackson (15) get some careers advice from Helen Jones of Connexions Derbyshire.