Some of the city’s biggest and best known employers are taking part in this week’s Launchpad Live two-day future careers event, showcasing the breadth of opportunities available locally and promoting the city’s key growth sectors.
Hosted at Home Park, Launchpad Live will run on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 September and aims to inspire and raise aspirations of local young people, and improve awareness of local career choices and progression pathways available after they leave school.
More than 60 employers and organisations will be taking part, including Babcock, Livewell South West, Kier Construction, Plymouth Community Homes, Go South West, Theatre Royal, Wolferstans, Ward Williams Associates, Greenlight Safety and Training, Vistry Partnerships, the Armed Forces, National Marine Aquarium, City College Plymouth, Building Plymouth, Skills Launchpad Plymouth and Plymouth Manufacturers Group.
Launchpad Live will showcase the city’s key employment and growth sectors to over 3,000 Year 7 to 13 students booked to attend through interactive zones, along with the latest immersive technology focused on marine, engineering and manufacturing; health and care; construction and the built environment; tourism, hospitality and retail; technology, business and creative services, as well as the Armed Forces and the emerging green and sustainability career opportunities.
The event is being organised by Plymouth City Council in partnership with YMCA Plymouth, with further support from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and Plymouth Citybus.
Councillor Charlotte Carlyle, Cabinet member for Education, Skills and Children and Young People said: “It is vital that Plymouth retains its talent and develops the next generation of skilled workers. I am delighted to welcome so many employers and organisations in hosting this fantastic inclusive future careers showcase event to help better inform and shape the future career journeys of over 3,000 local young people.”
Paul Turner, Chair of the Plymouth Employment and Skills Board said: “The Skills 4 Plymouth strategic plan has a clear focus on ensuring our children and young people aspire and achieve and as employers we better coordinate efforts to promote the careers available to the future talent pipeline. This week’s showcase event is the game-changer we need to localise careers information, advice and guidance in an interactive, fun and hands-on way to engage directly with our future workforce.”
Tom Lavis, CEO of YMCA Plymouth said: "As a Plymouth charity that has supported young people's aspirations in the city for nearly 175 years, YMCA is delighted to bring this exciting careers event to life in partnership with Plymouth City Council. The pandemic has caused one of the biggest shake-ups to the job market in decades, so we believe it's vital to now showcase what fantastic opportunities are out there. We're very proud of how we have been able to make this event truly accessible for young people and the wide scope of employers and trainers, which will make this a real landmark event for the city."
Launchpad Live is open to the public at Home Park on Thursday 22 September between 3pm and 8pm. Friday 23 September is reserved for school bookings only.