The popular Havant Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fair will return on Friday 9 March for a third consecutive year, it has been announced.
Organised by local MP Alan Mak, it will once again be at Havant Leisure Centre from 10am to 3pm and will see more than a thousand jobs, apprenticeships and roles on offer.
With the successful event now a firm fixture on annual calendar, Alan said he was looking to help even more residents find a job, get careers advice, or look for a career change. Representatives from dozens of industries from both the public and private sectors, ranging from the Armed Forces to care agencies and retail, will be on hand to offer jobs and advice.
The Fair is free for anybody living in the Havant constituency – which includes Havant Town, Emsworth, Hayling Island, Bedhampton, Langstone, Purbrook, Stakes, Widley and Leigh Park. Friends, family, parents and guardians of young people are also encouraged to attend.
Alan said: “For the last two years, we have had brilliant support from the community for my Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair and I am delighted the event will return to Havant Leisure Centre in March. We’re fortunate to have low unemployment locally, and a growing local economy, but we should never be complacent and should be aiming to get everyone into work, an apprenticeship or training.
“We have a number of growing local businesses at my Fair such as FatFace who opened a new distribution centre at Dunsbury Park, so it’s an excellent time to find work in our area. A strong local economy is my top priority, and more jobs means higher wages, rising living standards, growing investment and successful local businesses. I encourage anyone who is thinking about changing career, looking for work or considering an apprenticeship to come along on the day and find out more.”
Havant Job Centre will be offering advice on the day, while free employability workshops will also be provided by the National Careers Service. A CV building workshop will be taking place at 10.30am and 1pm and a job interview technique workshop will be at 11.45am and 2.15pm.
Howard Broad, Chief Executive of Horizon Leisure Centres, said: “We are delighted to be hosting Alan Mak’s Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fair for the second time here at Havant Leisure Centre. Horizon is the sports hub of the community so we are pleased to be able support this worthwhile event that helps local people find employment which in turn improves the local economy.”
Two of the residents who found work after the event last year were Becky Webb and Mark Wilson, who found work as carers at Right At Home in Havant.
Duncan Cameron, Director of Right At Home Havant, said: “We attended Alan’s Careers Fair last year in the hope that we could attract compassionate, caring people to come and join our team. We were delighted with the quality of job seekers that we met on the day and short listed five people to attend an interview. We hired two, Mark and Becky, and a year later they are still doing amazing work with Right at Home - delivering top quality care in the community. Attending Alan’s Careers Fair was one of the best recruitment decisions that I have taken and will definitely be attending this year too.”
There is still space for exhibitors, any business wishing to get involved should email [email protected] for more information.
Picture 1: Alan Mak MP at the Havant Jobs Fair in 2017
Picture 2: Alan Mak MP at the Havant Jobs Fair 2017 with the team from Havant Leisure Centre
Picture 3: Alan Mak MP with Becky Webb and Mark Wilson, who found jobs at last year’s jobs fair