Thousands of jobseekers were in Carlisle for the county’s fifth annual skills fair bonanza.

Hosted by the city’s MP John Stevenson, the event at The Sands Centre aims to encourage the cream of Cumbria’s talent to remain in the county working with local business organisations.

Training providers and firms used the day as a way of advertising what schemes, including apprenticeships, are available to make sure that the skills needed in today’s workplace are met in the learning environment.

The main sponsors of the fair were city firms Bendalls Engineering, Story Homes and Pirelli.

There was also support from were Gen2, RWP Training Ltd, SP Training, CN Group, Carlisle College, The Edge, Newton Rigg College, University of Cumbria, Inspira, JTL and CITB.

Representatives from national companies such as Pirelli and Nestle, local concerns like Stead McAlpin, Calder Foods and Park Gate together with training providers including Carlisle College, Inspira, the University of Cumbria and SP Training attended.

Harvey Blaylock at 16 is looking to pursue a career in mechanical engineering and attended the event with mum Sheena Hetherington.

The Trinity School pupil said: "I think the RAF might hold the key to my future. As well as the training I will get in engineering, I also get the chance to travel."

Heading up the RAF stand was Sergeant Chris Pillans, who is based at the RAF Careers Office in English Street, Carlisle.

He said: “We recruit up to the age of 40 in selected trades. In particular we are looking for chefs, gunners, stewards and engineers as well as catering staff. We offer a really good scheme offering more than 27 apprenticeships over 50 different roles.”

Bendalls Engineering is looking to take on four apprentices this year at its base in north Carlisle.

With major work in the fields of nuclear sector as well as oil and gas petrochemicals, the company is one of the city's big success stories.

"Nuclear is our big area at the moment and we are looking to recruit," said David Irving, nuclear project manager.

"We had a lot of interest at the skills fair which is very encouraging. We have various disciplines here at Bendalls with our own design department, project engineering, administrative roles and workshop needing welding and fabrication skills."

RWP Training in London Road, Carlisle has just introduced a customer service practitioner level two qualification which runs over 13 months and is proving popular with Carlisle businesses.

"Our students come to us one day a fortnight and then go out to work with an employer for the rest of the time," said Hayley Hall, head of business development.

"We were at the skills fair because we also deal apprenticeships for which there is a high demand in Carlisle. Employers are now aware there is money in apprentice levy pots to pay for training for both existing and new staff."

The Cumberland Building Society is a keen advocate of the Carlisle Skills Fair and its ability to promote both apprenticeships and job vacancies.

Katie Finnerty its senior personnel and training assistant said that The Cumberland runs its IT and administration apprenticeships through Gen2.

"They are with us four days a week and the other day is spent with Gen2," she said. "There was a lot of interest at the skills fair in our apprentice schemes.”

Mr Stevenson said it was important that the skills provided through training schemes matched the work opportunities being offered by Cumbrian employers.

He said: "The Carlisle economy doesn't demand huge numbers of graduates but it does need skills such as engineering.

Local businesses are reasonably buoyant and there are a lot of good apprentice opportunists out there. “I will only do this while there is value – it is good to see the level of interest is still there."

For Carlisle City Council leader Colin Glover the skills fair is important to the future growth of the city.

He said: “We have to make sure employers have the skills available to them and this event is a great opportunity for local businesses and organisations to show what they have to offer in terms of training and job opportunities.

“People looking for that kind of information can come along and meet these businesses and organisations face-to-face.”