Community careers fair shows young people what’s possible

Young people in Northwood were able to meet employers, colleges and support organisations, discover new career pathways and receive practical advice at a Cradle to Career community careers fair hosted by Right to Succeed. 

Held at Northwood Community Centre, the event brought opportunities directly into the community, helping young people understand the education, employment and training (EET) pathways available to them and how to access them.

Providers included Amazon, St John Ambulance, NHS, The King’s Trust, Royal Airforce, Royal Marines, Altru Drama CIC, Vibe, Young Adult Respite Service (YARS), Knowsley Community College, St Helens College, Liverpool Community College, The Knowsley Apprentice, Evolving Mindset, Serco and Career Connect.

Alongside conversations with employers and colleges, young people could enjoy free pizza and refreshments and take part in a graffiti class with Zap Graffiti.

Raising aspirations with support in the community

The careers fair forms part of Cradle to Career’s work in Northwood to raise aspirations, connect families with local support and ensure young people are not prevented from progressing simply because they don’t know what opportunities are available or where to begin.

Laura Nolan, engagement coach for Cradle to Career in Northwood, said: “Events like today are important for young people to come and find out what opportunities are there for them. If they don’t know what’s out there, they don’t know what they can access.

“I think it has got a lot better recently and we are seeing young people accessing more opportunities. I’ve seen a good rise in older young people accessing community provision, which is really good.”

For young people who may feel unsure about approaching an employer, travelling to a college or completing an application independently, events like this in a familiar environment can provide an accessible first step.

Career Connect coaches said organisations also had a responsibility to make their services more visible and accessible.

Nathan, a coach at Career Connect, said: “Organisations need to make more of an effort to come to communities like Northwood because colleges are so far away. There’s no college in Kirkby anymore and not having that physical presence in the community is a real loss."

Career Connect offers local support from Centre 63 in Kirkby, where young people can drop in for advice. Coaches help with career planning, applications and qualifications, as well as practical steps such as obtaining identification (provisional driving license or National Insurance Number), opening a bank account or getting online.

“A lot of support is needed for families as well,” Nathan added. “Roles like engagement coaches and family connectors [through Cradle to Career], and the whole-family approach, are invaluable. People need people.”

Gaining experience and being yourself

The event also gave young people the chance to hear directly from two Amazon degree apprentices, who shared practical advice from their own experiences.

Georgia explained that after college she knew she didn’t want to follow a traditional university route, but was unsure what to do next. A conversation with an Amazon recruiter at a careers fair introduced her to her ‘perfect job’.

“She opened the door for me to a career that I never knew was a possibility and that was so suited to me,” she said.

"Before that, I’d never heard of a career and thought 'I want to work as that for the rest of my life', then I heard about project management and it was my perfect job."

She spoke about the value of attending events, speaking to employers and following up afterwards.

“Having that face-to-face opportunity definitely sets you apart,” she said. “If you make an impression, speak to people and get your name out there, you’re more likely to be remembered.

“Going to the little things will get you to the big things.”

She went on to say that experience can come from many places, including part-time work, volunteering, hobbies, online courses and community activities. It's also important to be yourself, employers look for authenticity.

“Try it - any little opportunity. It doesn’t have to be the career you see yourself in for the next 50 years. Whether it’s volunteering, a placement or some work experience, you’ll learn something from it.

“In the application process, I’d say be natural. Just be yourself and show your natural qualities.”

Engagement coach Laura shared an example of a young person who first attended a local youth club, progressed into volunteering and has now secured paid employment as a youth worker.

“That is a real success for him,” she said. “I’m really proud to see young people grow - from coming to the centre, to getting a job and being able to uphold that.”

Tackling the NEET crisis with prevention and trust

The event came amid wider national concern about the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), recently highlighted by Alan Milburn’s independent review of young people and work.

However, the Northwood careers fair showed how early engagement, trusted relationships and accessible local events can help young people see what is possible.

For more information on Right to Succeed's Education, Employment and Training programmes, visit: https://www.righttosucceed.org.uk/education-employment-training