Rochdale Skills Event showcases career opportunities to thousands of students

Student speaks to a Source BioScience representative about careers in science a the Rochdale Skills Event

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Over 2,000 students from secondary schools across Rochdale, along with 40 businesses, packed into an industrial unit on Heywood Industrial Park today (Wednesday 11 March) for the third Rochdale Skills event.

The unit was transformed to allow students to get hands on experience with a number of businesses. Aimed at year 9 students, the event is to introduce students into the world of work and to help them start thinking about future careers.

Business involved with this year’s event included local businesses such as Source BioScience as well as regional and national organisations such as Key 103 and the BBC.

As well as getting advice, students could get involved with actives including news reading and a pit stop challenge.

Students attending the event found it helpful and enjoyed that there was lots going on.

Katie Large from Falinge Park High School said: “It’s good. There is lots going on and it is definitely helping me decide about my future.”

Victoria Gucca from St Cuthbert’s RC Business and Enterprise College said: “It’s really good and I’m glad that I came.”

Staff from the local schools also found the event helpful.

Mrs Hanley from Falinge Park High School said: “It’s good for the students to get the information and ideas about their careers. I think that it’s good that it’s a hands on event as well.”

Rehana Abbas, also from Falinge Park High School ,said: “I think it’s a good event to help students think about the future a bit more. I like that its hands on because they can get involved and get a feel for things. It’s a really good event.”

Exhibitors were also delighted with the event and the response they got from the students.

Jack Andrews, from Automotive Academy, said: “I haven’t been to the event before but the company has been. It’s been good and the students all seem to like it. We have had a good response and would definitely come again.”

Justin Mottershead, from Key 103, said: “It’s great. We set up so the kids could do some mixing on the decks and everyone has loved it. The kids have been getting involved which is good. It’s a good event to get students thinking. We would definitely come along again.”

Danielle Wain, from Source BioScience, said: “A lot of the students who have been over to us have been trying to find out about how to get involved with science so that has been interesting. It’s been really good.”

Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Carol Wardle also attended the event and got hands on with some of the exhibitions.

Speaking about the event she said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s great to see all of the young people so eager to get involved and find out more about things and the technology that is available to them these days. It is a great event.”

Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes attended the skills event for the first time and said: “I think it is absolutely brilliant. This is a great event to get our young people thinking about their futures. It is a great idea. There are things here that I certainly wouldn’t have thought about doing at their age so it is nice to see all of these opportunities for them. I would love to see it continue.”

Carol Hopkins, from Rochdale Development Agency, said: “It has been fantastic. The event has doubled in size this year and it is great to see so many young people having a good time. This year we have had a mix of local and national businesses as well so that has been great.”