Polar explorer launches online careers fair to help young people affected by pandemic
Back-to-back careers fairs are being launched to give young people across the South West of England the chance to talk with employers and get vital careers advice at a critical time.
Developed by South West based polar explorer Anthony Jinman and running through the Liketobe.org career platform he founded, the 10-3pm careers fairs on Monday June 22 and Tuesday June 23 will give 15-25 year olds the chance to talk directly with companies and help prepare them for work in a post-lockdown world.
The Coronavirus outbreak has meant that more young people than ever are struggling to prepare for the transition from education into work.
School, college and university closures, combined with self-isolation and the cancellation of career fairs and face-to-face meetings, is compounding what was already a challenging process.
Responding to the problem Liketobe.org, a digital solution for employers to connect with young people and potential future employees, is lining up a range of key businesses for the events.
Just some of the leading employers and speakers who have already agreed to take part include the Mayor of Bristol, Network Rail GE, Stonegate Pub Company, Kidzania, RNLI and global satellite communications company Inmarsat.
‘Pandemic Proof - Protect Your Employability Post Pandemic’ is 10-3pm on Monday June 22 and ‘Women in Engineering - The World of Engineering Wants You’ follows, at the same time, on Tuesday June 23.
Antony is urging business leaders, and owners, to lend their support at a difficult time for young people in education and starting their careers.
He said: “This event is a great opportunity for companies to show their support for the student community in these challenging times.
“We are grateful to those who have already offered their support but we are keen for as many businesses as possible to get involved and help us help the employees, leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.
“Unlike traditional career fairs, this event will leave a legacy long after it has taken place, with students able to access it for the next 12 months.”
The two events are part of the ongoing TIC Talk Channel series run by LikeToBe. There will be insightful career talks and presentations by employers and their ambassadors. Speakers will also be available online to answer questions and offer career guidance and advice via a number of forums.
The focus will be on how the C-19 pandemic has affected careers, in particular how the world of work in various sectors might change and how students can protect their employability. During the June 23 event, there will be a special emphasis on careers for women in engineering.
It is expected that up to 5,000 students will take part in the live events. Both careers fairs will also be accessible over the next 12 months at Liketobe.org.
Lynne Mason, apprenticeship manager for the RNLI said: "The RNLI are delighted to be using LikeToBe as our platform to celebrate International Women in Engineering Day in 2020.
“For the past five years we have been inviting female students from local schools to the RNLI Support Centre in Poole for a day of fun engineering activities and to promote careers in engineering.
“By using LikeToBe we are now able to go a big step further by promoting the RNLI and our wide range of careers pathways, particularly in engineering, to a much wider audience."
Marelisa Vega, Co-Head of Community Investment at GE, said: "We are thrilled to be working with LikeToBe. It’s exciting to be a part of such an innovative way to have STEM-inspired career conversations with young people about the fascinating array of opportunities in STEM through a safe online environment."
Students can book a place at ‘Pandemic Proof - Protect Your Employability Post Pandemic’ at www.bit.ly/LTBcareerfairpp and ‘Women in Engineering - The World of Engineering Wants You’ at https://bit.ly/LTBcareerfairwie.
Companies able to support and get involved can email Anouk@liketobe.org
