Huge turnout for north’s biggest ever skills show

P&J event: Youngsters learn of range of careers

More than 1,000 people attended the biggest skills show ever to be staged in the Highlands yesterday.

Visitors young and old at the Press and Journal Skills Show 2015 got the chance to find out about a range of career options, ranging from modern apprenticeships and graduate schemes to the police and army.

The event, presented in association with partners Skills Development Scotland ( SDS), Highland Council and My World of Work, was held at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness and was declared a runaway success by those attending.

Among the packed throng of visitors at the lively show were hundreds of schoolchildren from schools across the city and as far afield as Dornoch, Ul- lapool, Kinlochleven and the Black Isle. They were keen to learn more about the opportunities available to them across the Highlands and Islands, and the skills required to allow them to effectively work in their chosen discipline and identify the learning opportunities that can lead to employment.

Press and Journal online editor Martin Little, who was on hand to help answer questions about careers in journalism, said: “The atmosphere was very positive and lively with youngsters visiting the numerous stalls to find out what opportunities are available to them. They also asked lots of questions of the numerous experts who were on hand and able to offer first- hand advice about anumber of different careers and education routes open to them.”

Visitors could also explore where their future could take them via the My World of Work and Skills Development stands, which play a key role in supporting the people and businesses of Scotland and encourage people to develop and apply their skills.

As well as an opportunity to try out different skills, from sport to engineering, the show had a spotlight speaker stage where attendees enjoyed several learning-through-0work sessions hosted by Skills Development Scotland.

They also heard firsthand from two motivational speakers – author, consultant and sports coach Don MacNaughton, and Tracy Rennie from Social Enterprise Academy.

Event organiser for the P&J, Kerry Medford, said: “It has been such a good day with so much positive feedback from schools, exhibitors and attendees.”

Look out for further photographs from the event in this Friday’s Your Job supplement in the P&J.

Gordon Lennox Photographs: INSPIRATION: Motivational speaker Donald MacNaughton makes his presentation while, right, Tracy Rennie of Social Enterprise Academy addresses the students, who are checking out the career information available. There were many interested faces at the...

P&J online editor Martin Little gives advice to pupils