The 'Building Ambition- Talent Showcase in Construction' event was attended by nearly 200 students, the majority of whom were enrolled in construction-related courses with Buckinghamshire College Group, with approx. 40 students studying business studies courses.

Exhibitions

With 17 construction businesses hosting exhibition stands, there was plenty of opportunity for students and employers to discuss career opportunities, with the young people able to gather vital information and confidence about their future options.

Practice interviews

There was a real practical element to the day too, with practice interviews staged to give the students first-hand experience of this crucial element of their career paths.

Panel discussion

Prior to this, there was an eye-opening panel discussion where construction industry representatives spoke on the subject: 'What does the future look like for jobs in the construction industry?' Panel members included Paul Skitt (Flannery Plant Hire), Paddy Patterson (Eiffage Group), Sairah Hussain (Galliford Try), Lizzie Forbes (Balfour Beatty), Elizabeth Steel (CITB), and Luke Osbourne (ECA).

100% success!

In a post-event survey of the students in attendance, 100% said they learned ways to help reach their future goals. You can't get better than that!

John Browning, Workforce Skills Manager at Buckinghamshire Business First, said: “Thank you to all the businesses who supported this successful event. The students heard inspiring talks and gained valuable insights from the panel members on the rewarding nature of working in construction. There was also time for students to engage with all the businesses attending to discuss career opportunities and participate in practice interviews with those businesses.”

Want to get more involved as an employer?

If you would like to get more involved in meeting and inspiring students thinking of entering any particular sector, including construction, the Workforce Skills Team at Buckinghamshire Business First are always keen to speak with you.

They can help you build productive relationships with local students and education providers, plus they can provide information on the benefits of apprenticeships, work placements and other skills development opportunities.

Contact John Browning for further information at John.Browning@bbf.uk.com or 01296 798774.

An exciting opportunity to improve local construction skills

Over the last three months, the team here at Buckinghamshire Business First has been meeting with employers and training providers to identify opportunities to improve the future of post-16 technical education and training in Buckinghamshire.

We want to know if you agree with our findings! Your insight and experience will ensure we have got it right, and getting it right will benefit you and the entire construction sector in Buckinghamshire. 

Once you have read this document of our findings, there is a short survey for you to complete.

Future events for employers to join

There will be further Talent Showcase events in the coming months, so keep an eye on the Buckinghamshire Business First events page, the fortnightly newsletter, and social media channels.

In the meantime, you can attend the Confident Futures Skills Show on June 13th at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. This event is Buckinghamshire's most exciting careers event aimed at young people and career-seekers with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or those facing barriers to entering the workforce. Employers can get a free stand, so learn more and book your place here.

As part of the event, you can also attend a free workshop about 'Becoming a Disability Confident Employer' - a session designed to help businesses like yours create a more inclusive workplace. Learn more and book here.

*The 'Building Ambition- Talent Showcase in Construction' event was supported by Skill Up Bucks, a programme designed to help SME businesses in Buckinghamshire identify and nurture future talent by creating opportunities for people aged 17+ to meet and interact with employers. The programme is delivered by Adviza, Buckinghamshire Business First and Buckinghamshire New University, and is funded by the European Social Fund and the Department for Work and Pensions.