Hundreds get plugged into opportunities at employment fair

Published by philmc7 for Knowsley Housing Trust in Housing

Organisations in Knowsley worked together to help link people with employment and training opportunities in the borough.

Knowsley Housing Trust, part of the First Ark Group organised a job and skills fair in Huyton this week with many local partners that brought together over 350 opportunities under one roof.

More than 400 people attended the event where they were able to talk to local businesses about employment and training available and be inspired by motivational speakers.

This innovative event allowed young people from Knowsley to discuss employment options, find out about apprenticeship opportunities, gain employment advice from various agencies and pick up skills that can be used in applying for jobs and interviews.

Breakout sessions were also held where the young people were able to put their CV online and match it with suitable vacancies and an IT suite was set up for people to access one-to-one support helping them gain new skills and employment online.

Knowsley residents who have overcome hurdles to achieve great success were on hand to share their stories, to help inspire others and raise their aspirations.

Sheila Tolley, Executive Director of Customers and Communities at First Ark, said: “It is a very challenging time for people looking for employment and this was a great chance to plug directly into hundreds of opportunities.

“By coming together with local partners in this way we hope to have started many people on the path to bright futures.

“It is important to us that we play a part in creating opportunity in the areas where we work and inspiring communities and we will keep striving to find new and innovative ways of doing this.”

Local employers and employment services at the fair included Bullocks Construction, the MOD, Fusion 21, KCVS, The Women’s Organisation, Tomorrows People, Knowsley Works,KnowsleyCommunity College, Connexions, Centre 63, Job Centre Plus, Sysco and the National Careers Service.

Speakers from Sysco Skills,KnowsleyCommunity College, Bullocks Construction and Knowsley Foodbank gave special motivational presentations about their employment journeys, passing on advice on how to find and grab opportunities, positive thinking, interviews skills and much more.

Stephen Cross, 21, fromKnowsleyVillage, is currently unemployed and attended the fair to find out about apprenticeship opportunities in joinery or electrical engineering.

He said: “These events have some great apprenticeship vacancies which will give me an opportunity to learn and earn and get a good career for myself. 

“Originally I wanted to go into sports coaching but there are no jobs out there. These events are good because you can meet similar people and other agencies that can help.”

Currently studying sports and fitness at college, Kyle Gee, 16, from Huyton, said he was also on the look out for an apprenticeship.

“There is a lot of competition out there, so these events help,” he said.

Diane Williams, Employment Adviser at Job Centre Plus, added: “These events are essential and a great opportunity for partners to get together and help the people of Knowsley.”

The event is part of a series of KHT initiatives to help Knowsley residents with employment and skills opportunities.

It was sponsored by Bullock construction and organised by partners including First Ark, Knowsley Council,KnowsleyCommunity College, Fusion21 and Job Centre Plus.