Businesses and organisations in the Solent region are invited to take part in Careers and Apprenticeship Shows, to show young people the jobs, training and apprenticeship opportunities they can offer.
The events will take place in Portsmouth (on 4 May) and in Southampton (18 July).
Business Director from the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), and Chair of the LEP's Skills Advisory Panel, Rachael Randall, said:
"These are important events for the region, as they link employers with students from years 10-13, parents, and the wider community to showcase career, training and apprenticeship opportunities. With a strong focus on apprenticeships – including higher and degree opportunities – we wish to raise awareness of the other, more on-job ways of becoming skilled in any given career. For young people to learn whilst they work, and having existing staff sharing their knowledge with them is incredibly powerful for their early stage career.
"We would be delighted to have all types of businesses exhibit and show the assorted opportunities that are available across the Solent."
Jodi Fair, Apprenticeship & Skills Partnership Manager for the Solent Apprenticeship and Skills Hub, said: "Many businesses aren't aware of the benefits that providing traineeships and apprenticeships bring, and particularly that they develop a workforce with the specific skills that their business needs. Young people offered these types of opportunities provide a motivated and fast-developing workforce, who are open to the culture of a business, and often as a result, are loyal to the organisation.
"There are various forms of funding, and other pecuniary benefits available to those offering these types of entry-into-work opportunities. My team and I would be delighted to talk to organisations in the Solent area about what these might be, and what sort of offer would work for their business."
One example of the type of benefits available to small businesses (those with fewer than 50 staff members) is that 100% of the training costs for apprentices aged 16 to 18 are paid for by the Government. Businesses taking part in the Careers and Apprenticeship Shows are also being offered the opportunity to find out more about T levels, traineeships and apprenticeships that would offer them a number of benefits.
The Careers and Apprenticeship Shows are run in partnership by Portsmouth City Council, Solent Apprenticeship and Skills Hub, Solent LEP, Southampton City Council, Southern Universities Network, and University of Portsmouth.
Cllr Hugh Mason, Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and City Development at Portsmouth City Council, said: "Portsmouth has a thriving economy and entrepreneurial spirit thanks to every business in the city. Showcasing your business at the Careers and Apprenticeship Shows is a fantastic opportunity, especially after a tumultuous couple of years, for face-to-face interaction with young people and other businesses in the city.
"This is a key time to have conversations with young people as they start to think about their futures. Portsmouth has a terrific pool of young talent and skills, and what better way to attract them to your business by having a conversation with them."
Councillor Jeremy Moulton, Cabinet Member for Growth at Southampton City Council said: “As Southampton embarks as a candidate on the UNICEF UK Child Friendly City programme the Careers and Apprenticeship Show provides an opportunity for organisations to engage with the thousands of young people in our city and demonstrate the opportunities available for them to continue to thrive in the city beyond education.
“Southampton is a prosperous business hub, the city is home to an array of businesses and organisations from international company headquarters to small start-up companies. The Careers and Apprenticeship Show brings organisations together to network with each other and an opportunity to engage face to face with our talented young people to showcase the variety of opportunities available for them to start their careers. I’d encourage any organisation in the city with career, training and apprenticeship opportunities to join us for this valuable opportunity to engage with Southampton’s future talent.”
The first of 2022's Careers and Apprenticeship Shows will be held in Portsmouth on 4 May from 9.00 - 18.00 at Portsmouth Football Club; the second will be held in Southampton on 18 July from 9.00 - 18.00 at University of Southampton.
Businesses wishing to exhibit at either or both the events, please email CAS@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
For young people, schools and colleges wishing to attend either of the events, please use the same email: CAS@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
We have moved - visit our new website www.solentpartners.com