LEARNING lifesaving resuscitation, designing a fashionable new hairstyle and getting behind the wheel of a giant snow plough.
These were just some of the activities inspiring thousands of young people at one of Hampshire’s biggest careers fairs.
Nearly 4,000 youngsters flocked to the Solent Skills Festival and Jobs Fair at Southampton City Cruise Terminal.
The flagship event, now in its 11th year, was the chance for pupils, students and unemployed youngsters to discover the next steps towards their dream careers.
The terminal lobbies and warehouse were transformed into a bustling marketplace where 120 businesses and organisations set up hands-on displays and demonstrations to attract the next generation of colleagues.
Careers ranged from engineering and construction to law, finance, hospitality, hair and beauty, while public services, the armed forces and training providers also set up stalls.
Construction company Amey fired up youngsters’ imagination by showing them around their huge gritter and snow plough, while Williams Shipping displayed a 52-tonne container truck cab.
Visitors could braid hair of Hallowe’en-themed mannequins set up by Totton College or learn to save the life of one of one of Solent NHS Trust’s foam dummies.
Daily Echo reporter Maxwell Kusi-Obodum helped budding journalists and photographers design their own newspaper pages.
Other major employers at the event included Associated British Ports (ABP), BAE Systems, Southampton Solent University, and Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
Phil Swaffer of Hospitality Industry Training (HIT) helped visitors design their own scrumptious marzipan pigs and said: “The best thing about this is that kids can have a go at doing something while we chat to them about the jobs.
“They’ve loved it”.
The day was organised by the Solent Education Business Partnership (EBP) and supported by the European Social Fund and local authorities such as Southampton City Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and New Forest District Council.
Solent EBP chief executive Angela Wright said she was delighted at the turnout and added: “We’ve been really keen that young people are stimulated and inspired about their careers so that they can achieve their full potential.
“It’s been an amazing event, the feedback from exhibitors has been great and it’s great to see young people truly engaged.”
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