The annual Norfolk Skills and Careers Festival, the largest employer-led skills and careers event in the area, takes place in March 2020. Held at the Norfolk Showground, it aims to inform and inspire students by showcasing the businesses and careers options in Norfolk.
Students, aged 11-24, get the opportunity to meet local and national employers from a variety of different sectors, explore the learning opportunities available and get hands-on experience to help inspire them. Businesses are given the opportunity to meet with students, including those that have an interest in working in their sector, to talk about career and training opportunities within their company.
Around 6,000 students attended the event earlier this year which was supported by over 100 local businesses and training providers and sponsored by Norfolk County Council and New Anglia LEP.
James Hill at the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association said “We are delighted to once again host the Norfolk Skills and Careers Festival. It offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to meet a wide range of regional and national employers and training providers, explore potential future careers and discuss education and training options. The Festival has gone from strength to strength and it is a popular fixture in the careers’ calendar locally’’.
The event is backed by several key organisations in Norfolk who contribute their skills to ensure the show is a success.
Ian Twinley, Chairman of John Grose and the Honorary President of The Suffolk & Norfolk Skills and Careers Festival commented: “This event is well established with many Norfolk schools attending. We are most fortunate that the business community in Norfolk is providing enormous support for the next generation of the county’s workforce. The skills gap is narrowing every year which will lead to a more prosperous county for all of us.”
Michelle Pollard, new Chair of the Suffolk Skills and Careers Festival and Managing Director of Spider, the online job advertiser and specialist recruiter, is excited to bring both Festivals together under one banner. Michelle is passionate about driving forward to ensure that the critical skills sectors are closely aligned to local businesses to ensure the counties and local economies thrive. “We are often told that our young people are not “work ready”, so this event is so important for both the young people of Norfolk and also local companies who recognise that getting into dialogue with their talent of the future is critically important to the success of their businesses long term. This event is not a jobs’ fair, it’s an opportunity to really raise the aspirations of our future workforce and inspire our young people”.
The event enables students to explore the wide career choices in Norfolk and is a fantastic opportunity for them to speak to professionals to gain an inside view on a career they may be interested in.
For more information on the Norfolk Skills and Careers Festival or to register your interest in exhibiting next year contact Briony Harris T: 01603 748931 or E: norfolkskills@rnaa.org.uk
