Employment Fair hailed as a huge success

Hundreds of people took part in the latest Employment, Health and Skills event held at Bury Town Hall.

Bury Council and partners such as Job Centre Plus and the National Careers Service hosted more than 50 exhibitors, who offered a mixture of current job vacancies, training and skills opportunities, alongside information and guidance from health and support services.

The event was inclusive to all, to help residents enter and succeed in employment, with a particular focus on residents with disabilities and health related barriers.

Speed networking also took place to strengthen links between employment, health and skills, supporting new Bury’s Life Chances Commission and the borough’s health and wellbeing strategy.

More than 800 people attended the event and/or took part in the ‘speed networking’ element.

Councillor Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people at this event.

“Our feedback suggested that 84% of attendees reported an increase in knowledge and confidence in terms of gaining employment, developing skills and being well as a result of the event.

“People said they enjoyed the opportunity to speak directly to employers on a one-to-one basis, to hear about the range of opportunities available locally and the general encouragement on offer.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 28 October 2016.

Picture: At the Employment, Skills and Health event are (from left)

Cllr Tamoor Tariq; Mike Owen (Bury Council chief executive); the Mayor of Bury, Cllr Mike Connolly; Cllr Rishi Shori, leader of the council; Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, executive director of health and wellbeing; and Tasha Caplan, Emma Talks and Chelcie Russel, customer care team managers from JD Sports who were exhibiting at the event.