Fully Booked Skills and STEM Event Hailed as a “Huge Success”

The eighth annual Tees Valley Skills and STEM Event has today (July 2) been declared a huge success with business spaces fully booked and more than 1,200 students attending to see the careers opportunities on offer.

The region’s biggest jobs fair, which took place at Teesside University’s Olympia Building, saw 75 universities, colleges, learning providers and employers turn out to engage with the region’s young people.

Big-name businesses based in the region exhibited at the fair, such as fertiliser development company Sirius Minerals, marine decommissioning firm Able UK and EDF Energy on hand to highlight the opportunities in their sectors.

This is the second successful careers fair this year, with the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Careers Fair also taking place at Teesside University on June 17. There, 300 students participated along with 40 exhibitors and a number of interactive activities.

Mayor of Middlesbrough Andy Preston, who is also the Combined Authority’s Cabinet Leader for Business Growth, attended the event and said: “What a brilliant day. Our vital businesses were out in force to speak to masses of students, with the stands selling out – which to me means it was a huge success. I was excited to go along and meet the companies and the inspiring students and I am sure this was incredibly rewarding for everyone.

“I was very pleased to see how many are going above and beyond for the next generation of employees, working to show the opportunities for high-quality careers on offer in Middlesbrough and the wider Tees Valley. With their help, we can make sure our young people have all the skills they need to succeed.”

Abbie English, Deputy Director (Student Recruitment and Admissions) at Teesside University said: “Once again we have helped our business and education sectors come together for a fantastic and inspiring event.

“It is important to enthuse our young people from an early age and open their eyes to the wide range of career and study opportunities available to them.”

Gareth Edmunds, External Affairs Director of Sirius Minerals Plc, said: “We were delighted to support this event. It gave us a great opportunity to talk to the next generation of potential employees, show them what we’re doing in the area and where the future STEM-related opportunities will be in our business. Work is continuing at speed on our Project and it will continue to help create local jobs for years to come.”

The Skills and STEM Event was hosted by Tees Valley Combined Authority, in partnership with North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership (NYBEP), Teesside University, Tees Valley Learning Provider Network and Sirius Minerals.