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Peterborough Skills Service worked with the Voyager Academy in Walton to facilitate an all day careers fair for their 250 Year 10 students on Tuesday 10th July.

A diverse range of over 25 local employers and work-based training providers took part, including Coca Cola, Kier Construction and the College of Animal Welfare. Members of Peterborough’s Youth Council also attended to give an inspiring motivational talk.

This was a careers fair with a difference – employers and education providers each prepared an interactive activity or resource to encourage student engagement. Adding an element of competition, activities such as a quiz created a talking point and acted as a way of gathering information as students visited each employer to find the answers.

Exhibitors were supplied with “HIRED” stickers to award to students they felt deserved commendation for their attitude, appearance, questions, interest in the business or even sense of humour. Stickers gained were rewarded by the school as their equivalent of house points.

Students became professional prospective employees whilst attending the careers fair. To make the most of the day there were encouraging briefing sessions. Preparatory lessons had also been organised prior to the event so that pupils could learn CV writing, focus on their career aspirations and boost interview skills.

Sadie Gray, Careers Lead at the Voyager Academy said, “The Voyager Academy is very keen to extend our students’ careers knowledge and to develop their work related skills by challenging them to work with employers and training providers.

“The careers fair was such a valuable opportunity for students and it was encouraging to see so many of our year 10s grow in confidence and ambition as they engaged with exhibitors and discussed their experiences with classmates. This is an exciting and important new initiative for the school which will really enthuse students, and allow them to have a greater understanding of the working world and of what prospects are available.”

Peterborough Skills Service aims to raise the employability of young people and fill the local skills gaps by working with employers, education providers and learners. Visit the website to find out more about the available services and the support on offer or get in touch by calling 01733 317417 or emailing skills@opportunitypeterborough.co.uk