Job seekers on lookout for new opportunities (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Job seekers on lookout for new opportunities

2:36pm Wednesday 4th February 2009

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HUNDREDS of job seekers discovered a range of new employment opportunities thanks to the Chelmsford Weekly News, the mid-Essex sister paper of the Colchester Gazette.

The Jobs, Careers and Training Exhibition, organised by the paper’s owner Newsquest, saw people of all ages turn out to explore the training courses and jobs on offer.

Recruitment agencies, colleges, training providers and even the RAF occupied the 14 stands on display at the fair, held in Shire Hall, Duke Street, Chelmsford.

Ginette May, recruitment manager for Newsquest and event organiser, said: “The fair is designed to help people find employment.

“If people haven’t got the skills, we need to put them into training so they can get a job at the end of it.

“The event has proved really popular and we had about 100 people through the doors in the first 30 minutes of opening.”

Onelife Career Change, a company which provides workshops on career change, redundancy and business start-up, was at the fair to sign people up.

Jackie Birdsall, director, said: “It can be bewildering for people who are made redundant because they don’t know what their choices are.

“We hope to be able to provide information on their options through our workshops.”

Essex Social Care Professionals, a specialist recruitment agency which finds jobs for people working in the social care sector, was also at the event to register potential employees.

Director David Fennell said: “We want to talk to people about the professions available to them.

“Some people have not thought about care work before, and we can interest them into coming into this sector.

“There was a great attendance and we found some very good applicants we will be able to help.”

The exhibition, which ran between 11am and 6pm on Thursday, January 22, attracted more than 800 people in search of work and new challenges.

Chartered surveyor Rod Harvey, 55, of Pollard’s Green, Chelmer Village, was made redundant last month and attended the event to find temporary employment.

He said: “I think fairs like these are important – you may stumble across something you need.”

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