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Fully-booked Surrey Festival of Skills set to be even bigger and better for 2024

The Surrey Festival of Skills is set to fire up thousands of young people to be inspired about their futures.

Now in its second year, the event gives over 2,000 young people the chance to connect with and learn more about some of Surreyโ€™s brightest and best businesses and training providers.

The Festival of Skills is open to all young people in education aged 14 to 18 โ€“ whether they are educated in school, college, at home or by any other educational route.

The event has been organised and funded by Surrey County Council, with support from the Association of Learning Providers Surrey (ALPS). Sponsorship is provided by consumer health company Haleon and highways services provider Ringway.

Due to overwhelming interest, regular registration is now closed, however the organisers are operating a waiting list for those who still wish to register.

Routes to work plus training and skills pathways

This free one-day careers event will be held at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford on Tuesday 15th October and will bring together over 80 exhibitors from a diverse range of industries, including household names like Balfour Beatty, Siemens, McLaren and London Gatwick Airport.

Organisations from more unexpected or specialist sectors will also be exhibiting on the day, representing areas as diverse as private detectives, cyber security, osteopathy and early years education.

All of Surreyโ€™s Further and higher education providers are exhibiting, along with a range of  independent training providers so that the young people attending can learn more about the  training and skills pathways available.

Public sector institutions will also be represented with the Animal & Plant Health Agency, National Highways, Police and Surrey Fire & Rescue among those attending.

The organisers expect this diverse mix of exhibitors will provide information, guidance and inspiration for the whole range of young people attending, no matter what their interests and future career aspirations may be.

Cllr Matt Furniss, Surrey County Councilโ€™s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport & Economic Growth, said: “We expect this yearโ€™s Festival of Skills to build on the success of last yearโ€™s inaugural event in providing the young people of Surrey with the chance to meet and speak with major employers and educators, learn about what theyโ€™re looking for, and be inspired about their futures.โ€

Lewis Bridgman, Business Unit Manager at Ringway said: โ€œRingway are committed to supporting local talent and building a brighter future for young people in our county. We believe in investing in skills and creating opportunities that pave the way for rewarding careers for a diversity of talent within the highways industry. Together we can build strong foundations for tomorrow’s workforce. Ringway are proud to sponsor the 2024 Surrey Festival of Skills.”

Abeera Mohammad, STEM Lead at Haleon said: โ€œHaleon are proud to be sponsoring the Festival of Skills this year. As a world-leading consumer health company with our Headquarters based in Surrey, we are excited to be able to promote STEM careers and have the opportunity to give back to the community.โ€

For further information visit www.surreyfestivalofskills.co.uk.

Tim Oliver, (leader, Surrey CC), Dawn Redpath (Surrey CC), Jack Kennedy (Surrey CC), Richard Grainger (Business Leaders Forum) at the 2023 event.