Thousands of students flocked to Junction24 at North Petherton on Wednesday 16th October to attend the inaugural running of the Somerset Careers Fair. The event was a remarkable success and this has now set the scene for more to come. In excess of eighty exhibitors filled the venue with some highly regarded blue chip companies, armed forces services, training organisations and the very best of the universities and colleges from around the South West and further afield. Laura Truswell, Area Administrator for Mencap commented “ I just wanted to say how great yesterday was, it was really well organised and a great lay out and brilliant turn out”, Emma Davis, Alternative Provision Manager, Bridge School Sedgemoor said ‘’ May I take this opportunity to say thank you very much for arranging the Careers Fair, these events are so important in helping young people choose the pathway they want to take after leaving school.
Founder of the Foundation, local businessman Sean O’Brien stated “There has been a lot of work and research undertaken to get this event off the ground today and I am thrilled that it has been so well received in the community by exhibitors and visitors alike. From the support and feedback we have received there is no question in my mind that the message we were trying to get out there has been understood and embraced wholeheartedly. We hope the Careers Fair has not only been of use and help to our young people but also for our colleagues in business and commerce who attended with their company stands to offer their help and professional advice in their own chosen fields. This in turn, shows their corporate and social responsibilities to our young people, the workforce of tomorrow.”
Chris Kimmins, Event Organiser from the One Step Foundation further commented that attendance was brisk throughout the day and at times heaving, with schools bringing in their students by the coach load and others attending the event with their parents and guardians after the school day had finished and into the early evening. One such attendee ‘Tom Sealey’ aged 14yrs from Shepton Mallet said ”my mates and I had been surprised at just how many cool companies there were and all had good advice to give. It has definitely helped me think more now about what I want to do when I leave school.”
