GUEST COLUMN: Jobs fair set to be a success, by Gloria De Piero, Ashfield MP

Around 30 employers have already confirmed their attendance, as well as service providers, colleges and adult education institutions.

In the past two years, these jobs fairs have helped hundreds of people find work, which I am extremely proud of.

There are more than 1,300 people in Ashfield who are currently unemployed and claiming either Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit, but there are many more who are in work and who are looking to change their career.

Around ten per cent of those who are unemployed are aged 50 or over, following a rise of nearly 23 per cent compared to last year.

These people will have many skills and experience to offer companies which are recruiting and I would encourage them to come along because the fair will have vacancies suitable for everyone – be it entry level jobs for people with little or no previous experience or jobs aimed at people who have spent years honing their CVs.

I know that it is easy to be sceptical about jobs fairs and it is easy to feel down when you are searching for work but never find anything quite right. But there is one success story that sticks in my mind that demonstrates just how effective they can be at helping people find work.

A young man from Teversal, James Turner, came along to my jobs fair last year having been stuck in what he saw as a dead-end job for a several years. He spoke to someone from engineering firm Van Elle at the event and after going for an interview, was offered a job. Since then his life has been turned around – he has a career and income that he never dreamed of.

This is so pleasing to hear and I am sure there are similar stories from other attendees. So get the date down in your diary – Friday September 9, at the Festival Hall Leisure Centre in Kirkby from 10am until 2pm – and bring along some copies of your CV. I will see you there.