Today saw the first Blyth Valley Apprenticeships Fair held in Cramlington at Concordia Leisure Centre and the Cramlington Hub.
This fair brought together employers and support organisations with residents of Blyth Valley so that they could explore the opportunities that apprenticeships offer.
The event was supported by the Purpose Coalition and bp and was organised in collaboration with the Department of Works and Pensions and Northumberland County Council. Reed Partnership and DWP were on hand to help with CV writing and other employability skills.
Alex Burghart MP, the Minister for Skills and Apprenticeships made the long journey up from London on the 6am train to visit the Fair. He spoke enthusiastically about the Governments support for Apprenticeships and made the point that for many people this is a better option than going to University.
Over 600 people attended of the fair, many of them sixth formers or recent school and college leavers. Adults looking for a new career also came along. Over 30 businesses including some of the region’s largest who are actively recruiting were in attendance. British Volt and JDR Cables were both sharing their ambitious plans for apprenticeships recruitment. There were too many businesses to mention but the Cramlington pharmaceutical sector were well represented by Sterling Pharma Solutions and Quotient Sciences, retail by SpecSavers and the public sector by the Army, RAF, Navy and Northumberland County Council.
It is my intention to hold a Jobs Fair and an Apprenticeships Fair each year and that these events will help hook up our young people and others with the exciting opportunities and new jobs being created in Blyth Valley. Our ambitions employers need a deep pool of local talent to recruit from and that means making sure our young people grow up with the skills they need to take these new jobs – staring in our schools and colleges and then polished by our employers themselves. The future looks bright for Blyth Valley.
mployers and support organisations with residents of Blyth Valley so that they could explore the opportunities that apprenticeships offer.
The event was supported by the Purpose Coalition and bp and was organised in collaboration with the Department of Works and Pensions and Northumberland COunty Council. Reed Partnership and DWP were on hand to help wiht CV writing and other employabiliuty skills.
