Jobs fair will be back and bigger next year

Organisers of the free event, which saw hundreds of young people come through the doors of Northbrook College’s Broadwater campus on Saturday, say it will be repeated next year.

MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Tim Loughton said he had wanted to host a jobs fair for a long time.

“Although the unemployment rate is fairly low in this area, there are still a lot of young people that could do with some help,” he said. “This is about broadening people’s horizons and showing them exactly what is on offer. There was a really good variety of employers with some excellent jobs on offer and there was some very good advice on offer from a number of seminars. It has been a lot of hard work but I think it has paid off.”

Adur chairman Mike Mendoza said: “I think this is important because it brings lots of fresh ideas for young people regarding where they want to go in the future and it also helps open the door for them in terms of apprenticeships.

“It has been very well attended and supported.”

Worthing mayor Bob Smytherman added: “This is a great way of creating jobs for all ages and providing a real boost for people.

“It is about providing real apprenticeships and giving people real skills and I hope the next generation will take advantage of the services and opportunities that we have in Worthing.”

A wide range of companies, services and charities attended the event.

Joanne Hauffe, of Western Sussex Hospitals Trust, said: “We have come to raise awareness of the different courses in the NHS and also the different apprenticeships that we offer, from plumbing to horticulture.

“There are a lot of opportunities for young people including plenty that you would not normally associate with the NHS.”

Brenda Cook, apprentices and careers manager at Northbrook College, said: “I think it has been a fantastic event and a phenomenal success. It will definitely happen next year and it will be bigger and better.”