Opportunities Ahead 2018 takes place on Thursday 5 July 2018 (10:00 – 18:00 BST) at Quy Mill Hotel & Spa, Church Road, Stow cum Quy, Cambridge CB25 9AF.
The skills shortages for local businesses are reaching a ‘critical level’, with the Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce advising that employers must do more by training and investing in people wherever possible.
By connecting schools and businesses, Form the Future hopes to reduce the skills gaps by developing a pool of local talent that employers can recruit from, and empower young people to achieve and succeed. The team hopes to help at least 10 schools pay for transport so that 2,500 students will be able to attend Opportunities Ahead 2018.
This annual careers fair gives young people aged 14-19 the chance to meet 50 local businesses from a diverse range of industries, and attend workshops that will enable them to hone their employability skills, such as CV writing and interview techniques.
Following previous Opportunities Ahead events, the students felt better informed about potential career pathways and what skills would be needed to succeed, with many able to secure work experience placements or apprenticeships with leading employers. Others learned what they needed to study at college or university to pursue their chosen career.
To help Form the Future raise £8,000 and give 2,500 young people a chance to take their first step into a career, please visit www.globalgiving.org/projects/set-2500-on-path-to-career-success/ and donate £10 or more.
Inspire others by telling as many people as possible about Opportunities Ahead and the crowdfunding campaign. Use the hashtag #OppsAhead2018 on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn so your friends, family and colleagues know you want to help local students.
There are a few spaces left for businesses who would like to exhibit. Contact Catherine Hay at [email protected] if your organisation would like to take part.
Anne Bailey, Co-founder & Director of Form the Future CIC, said: “We’ve lined up some brilliant companies eager to meet young people and help them learn about jobs – now we need to get the students there. Schools know how important it is to give students information about careers, but they have tiny budgets. Everything we earn will make a difference to young lives.”