Berkshire’s Biggest Ever Skills Show for Young People

Young people aged 14-25 years from across Berkshire had a unique one-off opportunity to understand and learn about important local businesses on 14th October at Ascot racecourse. Over 70 local businesses were under one roof, offering young people the chance to try their hand at a whole range of different have a go experiences at the Thames Valley Skills Show. The unique event is a first in Thames Valley Berkshire, and aims to give young people the opportunity to really understand the breadth of employment opportunities that there are in our area and at the same time learn some important skills.

There was a number of different zones which allowed visitors to find out about specific sectors of interest and explore the breadth of opportunities available. These zones were:- the World of Business, the Digital World, Construction and Engineering, Retail, Hospitality/Leisure/Tourism and Sport, Life Sciences and The World of Health. Companies will give practical advice about how to enter their sectors and the skills needed.

Anne Murdoch, Chair of Skills, Education and Employment group for Thames Valley Berkshire LEP and Principal of Newbury College commented; “We encouraged young people to come along and find out what’s going on. There was insightful activities and a great variety of companies and training providers.  Over 2000 young people came along with their schools or colleges from 9.30am – 2.30pm. Others came along independently or with parents from 3-6pm. This was a great opportunity, offering first-hand experience of companies, an opportunity that doesn’t come round very often.”

“The companies will be sharing insights into the work force opportunities of tomorrow, so young people went away with ideas about what companies want in the future, not just about what they want today. The event is a great way to motivate young people to become more involved in the sectors where there are skills shortages and good jobs and careers available.”

“Young people in the Thames Valley can get all the information they need to help them decide about their future career in one place and understand where there are skills shortages and good jobs.”

Asked about what the long term benefit of attending an event like this would be, Anne said “The opportunities that the companies are promoting will highlight the work force of tomorrow.  Young people will come away with ideas about what companies want in the future, not just about what they want now.  Most companies are very good at articulating this and it’s really important to help to secure long term success of the Thames Valley.”

She added that “the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, who secured the funding for this important event, recognises that employers struggle to find the right people and young people sometimes struggle to get information about what is available.  So an event like this is an absolutely fantastic opportunity for all parties to find out what is out there and for businesses to focus on future skills. A great example is the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which recruit at least 45 – 50 apprenticeships a year and those young people are absolutely vital to the future of AWE as a business.”

The event was being financed by the Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) who have been awarded funding from the European Social Fund and Skills Funding Agency to deliver with its partners a programme of inspiring and interactive events throughout Thames Valley that will raise awareness of skills, training and apprenticeships, as part of the Thames Valley Skills Show Experience www.thamesvalleyskillsshow.co.uk