It is intended that two pilot events will run early in 2024 in partnership with the local education authorities in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire to coincide with National Careers Week . After this , the programme will be rolled out in other areas of the country .

Commenting on the initiative , Building Our Skills ’ Partnerships Manager , Mark Handley says :

“ We have begun a process of consulting closely with both fenestration industry and local education authority representatives , and the latter have confirmed that there is a strong appetite for bespoke careers fairs organised by Building Our Skills . We ’ ve been making great progress in getting education departments to recognise the industry as an excellent source of varied , long-terms career opportunities , and this is a sensible , and ambitious next step for us . The fact that we can help careers professionals in schools to realise their curriculum goals makes this a win-win for all parties .”

Morgan Fisher , Marketing Executive of KUBU , an active

member of the Building Our Skills Advisory Panel adds : “ Bespoke careers fairs could be invaluable to us . We would be very enthusiastic to be part of such an initiative . We all have to pull together in order to ensure that the skills shortages that have dogged the industry for years become a thing of the past , not just immediately but in the long term as well . The more we can all do to get youngsters talking to us and considering a career in fenestration , glass and glazing the better .”

Further details of the new industry-bespoke careers fairs will be available following the conclusion of the consultation process , but it is expected that

up to twenty companies would be invited to attend each event . These will include a mix of ‘ enablers ’ - organisations that can advise on training , qualifications , routes to industry , apprenticeships and other pathways to employment ; national companies that can inspire and excite youngsters about the industry through technology , innovation , environmental advances etc ; and local companies who can offer follow-up ‘ Inspiration Day ’ visits to their factories and facilities in the area , work experience and potential job opportunities .

Anyone interested in getting involved in the programme of industry-bespoke careers fairs should email sayhello @ buildingourskills . co . uk or pick up the phone to Mark Handley on 07860 844296 .

For the remainder of this year , Building Our Skills will continue to attend other cross industry careers fairs , and would welcome industry representatives who wish to be involved in these also to get in touch . Venues include Liverpool , Sheffield , Rotherham , Truro , Leeds , Bradford , Doncaster , Derby , London , Manchester , Stoke and Barnsley .

The dates for each venue

can be viewed at https ://

buildingourskills . co . uk / news /

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