'People Fair' a great success
Fifteen people are a step closer to entering the work place thanks to a ‘People Fair’ held by Prospects, the education, employment and skills company, and Westward Pathfinder in Exeter.
People Fairs – a careers fair spun around - matches employers who have job vacancies with Work Programme customers seeking employment. The companies involved at the recent People Fair included Prestige Nursing, Toys R Us, Carillion, Nurse Plus, Devon Cliffs, Bourne Leisure, Modus Care and British Ceramic Tile.
Prospects is a prime contractor for the Work Programme in the south west of England and is a subcontractor in Bristol and London. The Work Programme’s purpose is to support individuals to transition from welfare to work then sustain employment.
The customers benefitted by meeting employers face to face, ensuring their personalities and enthusiasm gave the recruiters a positive first impression. The employers benefited from a fast, free recruitment service and the opportunity to meet potential employees, keen to work in their sector and immediately available to start work.
Carole Applebee, Devon Team Manager of Prospects, said: “The People Fair was a great success, there was a definite buzz and everyone involved ‘sold’ themselves to the employers and got to know the person next to them, encouraging a bit of healthy competition! All of the employers spent time speaking to all of the customers, and all 15 customers were offered interviews as a result of the People Fair. The event left the customers feeling positive and confident which is critical to improving people’s self-esteem and getting them back into work. The event could not have been achieved without the hard work of Prospects and Westward Pathfinder colleagues.”
Feedback from the employers involved was very positive, each customer had arrived well prepared, clearly enthusiastic and keen to work.
Pat Titley, from Bourne Leisure, commented: “I am so impressed with one customer; if he doesn’t follow up with an application I will contact him myself.”
Jemma Newton, from Toys R Us, agreed: “The customers were all confident and eager, even if those that did not have a retail background seemed keen to broaden their horizons.”
Due to the success of this People Fair, events are being planned in Torquay and Newton Abbot in September.
