Carlisle Skills Fair marks 10 years with record business turnout

Spearheaded by the MP for Carlisle, John Stevenson, the event unfolded on January 25 at Carlisle College, drawing in hundreds of attendees eager to explore diverse job opportunities presented by a multitude of industries.

The fair showcased a blend of familiar faces, such as the army, who have been consistent participants since its inception, alongside newcomers like Amazon.

Local businesses took centre stage, joining forces with prominent companies situated in Carlisle and its environs, including Tesco, Persimmon Homes, McVities, and SP Training.

McVities stand (Image: Ollie Rawlinson)

Persimmon Homes, a significant supporter of the event, positioned itself near the entrance.

Ian MacDonald, the regional apprenticeship manager for Persimmon Homes, emphasized the prevailing skills shortage and importance of apprenticeships, and said: “At Persimmon Homes Lancashire, we’ve got roughly 200 employees, and roughly 25 per cent are apprentices.”

Komatsu stand (Image: Ollie Rawlinson)

Bendalls Engineering, a Carlisle-based firm, also sought to bolster its apprentice intake.

Aileen Vollert, the nuclear products director, stressed the importance of apprenticeships in their organization, highlighting that several key members of their senior management, including the managing director, began as apprentices on the shop floor.

Left to right: Second-year joiner apprentice Andrew Johnston, bricklaying apprentice Leon Tobin, apprenticeship manager Ian MacDonald (Image: Ollie Rawlinson)

A notable addition to this year's fair was Maximus UK, which runs the Refugee Employability Programme (REP). 

Kerryanne Wilde, business manager, said: “The REP is a Home Office funded intiative to support refugees once they have their status here in the UK.

“Those eligible are people who have achieved refugee status from June 22, 2022, and from then onwards, anyone who fits a criterion we have can look at coming on, and we can support them getting into work through a 12-month programme.”

The event also shed light on the care and support sector, often overlooked but crucial. Sandie Donald, director of Bluebird Care in Carlisle, aimed to attract younger individuals to consider care as a career, emphasizing its importance given the growing elderly population.

Molly Park, a care coordinator (left), and Sandie Donald. Both work at Bluebird Care (Image: Ollie Rawlinson)

Representing Turning Point, an organization providing support for individuals with additional care needs, Michael Watson, a senior support worker, said: “There’s no required skills or knowledge.

"You just need empathy and want to make a difference in people’s lives, be compassionate, and caring.”

The diversity of businesses and industries present at the Carlisle Skills Fair underscored its significance in addressing the evolving needs of the job market and fostering opportunities for both employers and potential candidates.