A record 7,000 students have registered to attend the Norfolk & Suffolk Skills and Careers Festival at The Norfolk Showground on Wednesday 9 March and Thursday 10 March, 2022.
The festival is free to attend and is the region’s only major careers festival, primarily aimed at 14–24-year-olds to help inspire them for their future career.
It will be the first time the festival has been staged since the pandemic and the first time that it has officially covered both Norfolk and Suffolk. Prior to this, the Norfolk festival successfully took place for fix years between 2016-2020 before Covid put a hold on all major events.
“We’re delighted to be bringing back the festival bigger and better than before with record numbers set to attend,” said Mark Nicholas, managing director of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, and organisers of the festival.
“As soon as we began planning for the return of the festival the demand from businesses, schools, education and training providers has been high with enquiries coming in on a daily basis. With Covid significantly impacting children’s learning and career development over the past few years, combined with a huge array of career opportunities available in both Norfolk and Suffolk, the festival will provide a fitting platform for both youngsters and businesses to once again re-engage with each other.”
There will be over 60 different types of business and organisations in attendance representing a wide range of industries including construction, engineering, leisure, energy, finance, emergency services, the armed forces, agriculture and digital. There will also be a wide selection of colleges and training providers.
Corrienne Peasgood, CEO and principal of City College Norwich, said: “The Norfolk and Suffolk Skills and Careers Festival brings to life the huge range of opportunities that are available to young people after Year 11. We can’t wait to meet all those who are coming and to help them in making those important decisions about their next steps – whether that’s a T-level, A-level, vocational and technical qualification at college, or an apprenticeship.”
Flagship Group is one local business that will be at the festival as it has numerous apprenticeship opportunities available.
“We are delighted to be attending the event as it is the biggest platform in East Anglia to showcase our apprenticeship opportunities, and our wider Flagship opportunities, to students across the two counties,” says Kieren Buxton, apprenticeship programme manager for Flagship Group. “We believe it is important for young people to be able to make an informed decision on career choices, and it is a great event for them to start exploring future pathways. It is also an opportunity for our apprentices to share and showcase their development.”
In addition to the array of careers on offer, the festival will provide practical help, advice and workshops for those looking to develop their skills, including help on CV writing, interview techniques and job applications. There will also be a wide range of activities for attendees including flying simulators, farming simulators, interactive experiences, and challenges.
The festival is supported by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Norfolk County Council and Easton College with the aim of bringing together job seekers, employers, support and training services together to help school and college leavers discover the huge range of career opportunities that are available, both within the region and right across the country.
Nova Fairbank, chief operating officer for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to once again be supporting the Norfolk & Suffolk Skills and Careers Festival. This is a huge opportunity for employers to meet their potential future workforce and for young people to understand the wide range of careers that are available to them across Norfolk. It is fantastic to once again be able to help support face to face engagement between employers and young people.”
Other businesses and organisations attending include Alan Boswell, CLAAS, EDF, Gressingham Foods, John Deere, Lovewell Blake, City College Norwich, Oyster Yachts, Netmatters, Tarmac and University of Suffolk.
For more information on the festival, how to register and a full list of employers and organisations attending please go to the website www.norfolkskills.co.uk
