Council Careers Fair hailed a success!
Last Friday, the Vale of Glamorgan Council hosted a careers fair for three local secondary schools.
The fair was organised in partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Youth Service, Organisation Development and Careers Wales.
Year nine students from Pencoedtre High, Whitmore High and St. Richard Gwyn were invited to take part in the event, which saw the Council Chamber transformed into an interactive stall site.
There were a variety of stands from different departments within the Council, raising awareness of different career opportunities and current apprenticeship routes on offer.
The pupils, who have recently chosen their GCSE subjects, were given the opportunity to quiz officers on their roles in the Vale, ranging from Planning, Housing and Legal Services, to Mechanics and ICT.
Representatives from Cardiff and Vale College, Careers Wales, ACT Training, and other local employers were also on hand to discuss training opportunities.
In addition to answering questions, staff also provided pamphlets, quizzes and games to give a flavour of the kind of work that the students could be doing in the future.
Some stalls also provided the Vale students with the opportunity to apply for work experience within their department.
The idea behind the event itself was proposed by the Vale Youth Cabinet with a view to improving the variety of work experience opportunities for young people locally.
As the first of its kind, it was very much a trial event, with a view to expanding the fair in future.
Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills, Cllr Bob Penrose, said: “It is a great opportunity for the students to have access to such a wealth of information and experience. At such a pivotal time in their academic career, it is important to get them thinking about what they might like to do later in life.
“Events like these encourage students to keep developing their skills and abilities, giving them the confidence to pursue their ambitions and reach their full potential.”