Chief Minister encourages employers to show their support to Island students ahead of Jersey Skills Show
Jersey’s Chief Minister has spoken about the importance of investing in local talent ahead of the Jersey Skills Show this Friday.
Senator John Le Fondré, who is opening the Skills Jersey Show at Fort Regent at 10am, is encouraging employers to create opportunities for home-grown students and graduates as an investment in the island’s future workforce.
The Jersey Skills Show is free and open to the public, students, parents, graduates, career changers and job seekers. Exhibitors from agriculture, finance, business, hospitality, hairdressing, law, childcare, sport, music, the armed forces, the police, the hospital, and other business sectors will also be taking part.
Senator Le Fondré said: “This is Jersey’s largest skills and careers event and I am delighted to have been asked to open the show. I am looking forward to visiting the exhibitors, of which there are nearly 100 from various industries and organisations, including the States of Jersey.
“We need to be creating opportunities for our home-grown students and graduates and I would ask every business leader to make a clear commitment pledge to invest in local talent. Many businesses already have excellent student schemes in place but I always believe more can be done. We as a government will remain committed to attracting more Island graduates to a career in public service.
“I would encourage each and every Island business to promise to implement either paid internships or work experience. Providing practical experience and skills to young Islanders is an invaluable investment in our future workforce.
“We need to show our students and graduates that Jersey is an attractive and viable place to live and to work and not just in the financial service. It is across all industry sectors. I hope business owners and industry leaders are willing to make the same pledge.”
The Jersey Skills Show, organised by Skills Jersey at the Department of Children, Young People, Education and Skills and sponsored by Grant Thornton, is now in its fourth year and will feature more exhibitors and employers than ever before with nearly 100 exhibitors taking over both the Gloucester and Queen’s Hall at Fort Regent.
This year, the Fort’s main halls will be filled with skills demonstrations, interactive stands and opportunities with experts from a range of Jersey industries, including the States of Jersey web team, Children, Young People, Education and Skills department, Health department, and Police, who will be exhibiting at the event. This year will see Growth, Housing and Environment attending too, with some exciting interactive activities.
Qualified careers advisers from Skills Jersey will also be available to provide guidance on how to take the next step into work or further/higher education. Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton will be attending the opening of the show as well as Education Minister Senator Tracey Vallois.
The Jersey Skills Show opens at 10am to 6:30pm on Friday 19 October.
Anyone, regardless of age or stage in their career, will be able to try:
- coding, gaming, virtual reality and digital animation in the digital area
- music, design and animation
- veterinary science including listening to heartbeats and taking blood pressure
- firearm training and arrest techniques with the States of Jersey police
- life in Accident & Emergency, including pathology, physiotherapy, maternity, pharmacy and social services, if you are considering a medical or health career
- building a wall, painting and decorating, scaffolding, surveying and architecture, if you want to work in construction
Adam Budworth, Managing Director at Grant Thornton Limited, said: “We are delighted to be the Jersey Skills Show sponsor for the 3rd consecutive year and I am really pleased to see the show go from strength to strength. It is vitally important we invest in the skill base of the island and it’s good to see a wide variety of skills opportunities on offer at this year’s show.”
States of Jersey Press Release.