Following on from its successful apprenticeship event (pictured above) held during National Apprenticeship Week in March, the Network is hosting a jobs fair at the Hauser Forum in Cambridge, especially for students and young people considering an apprenticeship as a potential alternative career path to university.
Employers are encouraged to participate in this unique event, which aims to connect them with apprenticeship applicants in a friendly, informal setting. Cambridge Network is working with CAP – Cambridge Area 14-19 Partnership – to attract students to attend via a Facebook campaign and a large turnout is expected from local schools and colleges.
Hilary Laing, Cambridge Network's COO, said: "While graduate recruitment remains important for many companies in the region, it seems more and more are looking to take on young people straight from school. Our March event, 'The modern take on talent' – held in conjunction with the Skills Funding Agency and QA Apprenticeships, and supported by Tech Partnership – aimed to demonstrate the benefits we know apprentices can bring to even the smallest business, with some informative and inspirational talks from David Keeling of Bango and Linda Millett from Takeda.
"We were delighted to host over 60 of our members, who all seemed very enthusiastic about what they were hearing and very keen on the apprenticeship model.
"Now we want to galvanise Network members into action and maximise the real energy and appetite we found at that event, by helping local employers to find the talent they're looking for, and young people to discover the opportunities on offer in this region. Our Recruitment Gateway team will be on hand at the fair and we'll be happy to follow up with anyone who is interested to help them take the next steps."
Employers are offered the opportunity to promote their apprenticeships to students by taking a stand at the jobs fair, for a nominal fee to cover venue and the cost of transporting students to the event. Please contact Claire Angus on 01223 341055 or email claire.angus@cambridgenetwork.co.uk if you would like to receive an exhibitor pack.
Alternatively, Network members are welcome to sign up on the website and come along to learn more about employing apprentices from both fellow employers and from event sponsors, the Skills Funding Agency and Tech Partnership. Hilary adds: "Employers will also have the opportunity of talking with our partners to learn more about what is working for companies in other parts of the country, who are successfully employing apprentices."
Students and jobseekers who come to the event (free of charge) will benefit by
• Meeting the major local employers, who will have stands and be available to answer questions about apprenticeship placements in their organisations
• Taking part in an optional CV and interview skills workshop
• Learning about what an apprenticeship can do for your career.
"We are anticipating transport being available from many local schools and colleges to the event, which will run from 3pm to around 6pm," says Hilary. "The confirmed times and the list of pick-up points for transport to the event will be published on this website soon.
"If you are a student and you're still unsure about whether to choose an apprenticeship, this event will help you make up your mind."
Find out more and sign up here
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