Shropshire recruitment fair set to pull in thousands of jobseekers

Last year's Partnership for Jobs event attracted 4,000 jobseekers and more than 100 local employers and is now set to return on March 18 at Telford's International Centre.

Organised by Telford & Wrekin Council, employers already signed up for the event include BAE Systems in Telford.

Site director Bob George said: "We are supporting the Partnership for Jobs fair for a second year as it's essential for the area.

"We are also looking for talented people to join our business, to find young people to join BAE Systems and grow our talent pool."

The free-to-attend event has been set up in a bid to help companies which are expanding or planning for future growth to find the talent required to fill any available roles. Councillor Bill McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for finance and enterprise, added: "This popular event is designed to cater for the needs of local businesses as well as job seekers.

"For those businesses who cannot commit to attend the full day, space at the event can be provided within suitable time frames that suit your business needs.

"Alternatively, if your business can not attend this time around but has vacancies, we still want to hear from you.

"We are committed to helping our business community source the best available candidates while enabling those looking for work to identify opportunities that exist in the jobs market. The Partnership for Jobs fair will be great for both."

The event will also help the Council continue its £1.3m two-year commitment to reduce youth unemployment levels in the borough.

Last year the Council launched the Job Box, which brings together support for those seeking employment, as well as businesses looking for help and advice in taking on new staff, including apprentices.

The launch included a website pulling together a range of education, training and employment support for those seeking employment.

Meanwhile, the success of another Shropshire jobs fair has shown businesses are expanding once more, according to a county MP.

Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, said his third annual jobs fair in the town had proved a hit and showed employers' confidence was improving as some of the region's big names were taking on staff once more.

He said the fair also showed a number of schemes to help young people into work were coming to fruition, and with 275 fewer people claiming jobseekers allowance in the constituency, it was positive news.

More than 80 unemployed people turned out at Ludlow College's Harley Centre in Castle Square to speak to 26 exhibitors offering up to 150 jobs and apprenticeships.

Mr Dunne said: "Local businesses in Ludlow are expanding and looking to take on people.

"We had the likes of Britpart in Craven Arms which was offering 10 jobs and Shukers on Ludlow Business Park which is planning significant investment with a new showroom and will be recruiting this summer so wanted to get the word out.

"Capita was there, there were a lot of care home and nursing employers, we had the Armed Forces there, the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force, which some of the younger people were interested in.

"Another theme of the day was anaerobic digestion – there are three around Ludlow and between them there were 30 jobs on offer, they are looking to take on more engineers and project managers."

He added: "The Aspire Centre in Burford, near Tenbury Wells, brought its young engineering apprentices to get an understanding of what the opportunities are and what skills are needed."