Carlisle’s next generation of budding leaders are gearing up to host an innovative event to help inspire youngsters for their future careers.

Talent Connect, by the Market Cross in Carlisle city centre will take place on Saturday, September 21.

There will be a host of interactive activities, demonstrations and workshops to help Carlisle’s young people open their eyes to the range of future employment opportunities available to them in Cumbria.

It has been organised by Carlisle Young Ambassadors.

Michelle Masters, of Carlisle Ambassadors, is the project lead.

She said: “The overall aim of Young Ambassadors Talent Connect is to share ideas, knowledge and skills, which will raise the aspirations of Carlisle’s young people, by encouraging them to challenge, and look beyond their preconceived ideas of what they can achieve in the future living and working in the region.

“Talent Connect is a project devised by young people for young people, the idea came from those involved with Carlisle Young Ambassadors.

“As a group they recognise the potential the city has and the tremendous opportunities that they have as young people to develop and shape the city for their futures.

“They wanted to create this event to share that knowledge and give their peers the opportunity to find out what’s going on in the city for themselves, to help them discover that they have the power to shape their own futures simply by find out what’s out there.’

“They understand that by working together in partnership with their adult counterparts that we can get things done and help the city of Carlisle compete like never before.”

Beginning at 10am, the innovative event will feature four areas – the enterprise zone, careers zone, learning zone and chill out zone.

On the day, young people can pick up a range of free goodies and enjoy free coffee, cake and even a mocktail or two in the chill out zone, find out how to run their own business and how some of Carlisle’s entrepreneurs and business leaders started out themselves in the enterprise zone, meet with over 40 future employers in the careers zone and get some information to help them choose the right learning pathway in the learning zone.

Throughout the day there will be activities, demonstrations and workshops.

Carlisle Young Ambassadors group said: “We want to shine a light on all the fantastic businesses and amazing jobs there are in our city and county; encouraging the next generation to explore these opportunities for themselves.”

John Mallinson, leader of Carlisle City Council, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Talent Connect event.

“It will provide a great opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to meet up with local businesses and be inspired to help share the city’s future.

“Thanks to all the businesses that have volunteered their support, and also the Carlisle Young Ambassadors group for providing the inspiration for the event.”

Carlisle Young Ambassadors is an offshoot of the successful Carlisle Ambassadors.

It met for its first scoping meeting in January.

The network of like-minded young people, aged between 10 and 22, want to play a full and active role in the future growth and development of the city.

Students from local schools and colleges including William Howard School, Trinity School, Austin Friars and Carlisle College attended the initial meeting, which was also attended by representatives of organisations and local government bodies including Inspira, Carlisle Youth Partnership, Carlisle Youth Council, Carlisle City Council and Cumbria County Council.