2023 Bexhill Jobs Fair – Film & Review
Record numbers of visitors explored hundreds of job vacancies and skills development opportunities at Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair 2023.
Vibrant community event
The fair always aims to attract and meet the needs of a wide range of visitors and exhibitors and this year was no exception.
Rother residents made up over half, 54%, of attendees with the fair also attracting visitors from Hastings (31%) and other areas of East Sussex including Eastbourne (13%).
While just under half, 47%, of fair attendees were under 24 years old, more than a quarter were over the age of 45. In terms of employment status, the largest groups visiting were the unemployed (26%) and those in full-time education (19%) – an indication of the vital role the fair plays in helping people get back into employment and supporting young people into careers.
Motivations for visiting the fair varied. While many visitors, notably younger people, were interested in their first step on the career ladder (first job or apprenticeship 21%), others were interested in a new job (12%) or changing career (15%). It was also fantastic to see 15% of visitors interested in returning to work or back to work support – good news for those exhibitors facing recruitment challenges looking to explore new candidate pools.
Over 90% of visitors who supplied feedback rated the overall event, registration, fair layout, range of exhibitors and interactions with exhibitors positively. Comments included:
‘Great variety of stalls, really worthwhile attending’
‘The exhibitors I interacted with I found to be very engaging and inspiring’
‘Opened my eyes to a variety of job applications’
‘Educational and very informative’
Alongside small and medium sized organisations, over a third of the exhibitors at this year’s fair had more than 250 employees. Virtually every sector was represented with Construction, Transport, Health & Social Care, Financial Services, Engineering, Hospitality and the Creative Industries being particularly strong with at least 5 exhibitors offering jobs and skills development opportunities in each.
Of the exhibitors who gave feedback, 100% rated the event, venue, organisation and volume and quality of interactions positively. All found the event of value and all were interested in attending future fairs. Feedback included:
‘Great to see such a thriving, enthusiastic and supportive business community and so many great potential staff and volunteers. Well done for bringing everyone together’
‘Went really well, lots of interest, definitely a really good mixture of people, a lot more varied than some of the events we have done’
‘Very well organised and structured as well as great footfall of attendees’
‘Lovely event and puts Bexhill on the map along with the surrounding areas’
A huge thank you to those visitors and exhibitors who gave feedback and provided suggestions for how to make the 2024 event even more successful.
Register now for the 2024 fair
Bexhill Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair will be back at the Pavilion on Friday 15 March 2024.
Find out more and register here
Posted by Luke on Thursday 27 July 2023