Organising an Apprenticeships Fair

Toolkit for MPs

all party parliamentary group on

apprenticeshipsappg

Contents

Foreword 3

Why should MPs organise an Apprenticeships Fair? 4

What happens at an Apprenticeships Fair? 5

Who should be invited? 7

When and where? 9

Template press release 10

Template invite to exhibit/sponsor 11

Template application form 13

Template poster 14

Dear Member of Parliament

On behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships, we are delighted to publish this toolkit to help you organise your own Apprenticeships Fair.

Apprenticeships offer a unique opportunity for businesses to play a role in developing our talented young people. By offering jobs with a real wage and the opportunity to gain valuable skills and recognised qualifications, high-quality apprenticeships can ensure the workforce of the future has the skills it needs.

Apprenticeship Fairs are a great way of letting your constituents know about the apprenticeship opportunities that local businesses are offering. They help match potential apprentices with employers and can give young people a better understanding of the options available to them.

We hope this toolkit will enable you to organise your own Apprenticeship Fair in your constituency. If you need any further advice and support, please contact our offices.

Foreword

Catherine McKinnell MP Co-ChairAPPG on Apprenticeships

Alan Mak MPCo-ChairAPPG on Apprenticeships

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Why should MPs organise an Apprenticeships Fair?

An Apprenticeship Fair is an exciting opportunity to bring together a wide range of businesses that offer apprenticeships, allowing people in your constituency to meet key local employers and talk to them directly about opportunities they have available.

Your constituents can engage with a range of businesses at exhibition stands, which will be staffed by representatives from companies and other organisations that offer apprenticeships. This is an opportunity for them to ask questions and decide what kind of apprenticeship might suit them.

Apprenticeships bring many benefits, both to apprentices themselves, and businesses. For example, for businesses:

• A tried and tested way to recruit new staff, re-train or upskill existing staff• Up to 100% funding could be available to support apprenticeship programmes• Flexible to the needs of the business and can be tailored to specific job roles• Can help reduce staff turnover, by increasing employee satisfaction and loyalty

For apprentices they offer:

• A structured training programme, enabling people to work towards a qualification and to gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the chosen industry

• Experience in the working world; getting into employment earlier means there is increased potential for quick career progression

• Instead of borrowing student loans, apprentices are paid a salary and can earn a good salary earlier in their working life

• There are over 400 different types of apprenticeships offering a wide range of vocational and professional qualifications

Apprenticeship Fairs are events where employers, training companies and colleges promote their apprenticeship opportunities directly to those looking to start, or enhance their careers.

Organising an Apprenticeships Fair

4

What happens at an Apprenticeships Fair?

Format

Fairs should be free to attend and are usually set up as a collection of exhibition stands staffed by two or three representatives from companies and other organisations that offer apprenticeships.

We recommend that the Fair is organised as a drop-in event, with constituents able to attend anytime and stay for as little or long as they like during the Fair’s opening hours. Fairs usually last around four to five hours to allow as many people to attend as possible, for example from 10am until 2pm or 3pm.

Size

Apprenticeship Fairs can range from small fairs held at local schools or further education colleges with 20 or so employers, to big national events such as the National Apprenticeship Show with 100+ exhibitors. Most constituency Apprenticeship Fairs tend to have between 30 to 50 exhibitors.

Key elements

The main ingredients for the day are the employers who are exhibiting, your jobseekers, a guest speaker and the local press.

Having a guest speaker with a background in apprenticeships to open the Fair or run a masterclass helps to break up the day, and can really help promote the Fair. Inviting local journalists along will also help promote apprenticeships.

Toolkit for MPs

5

TOP

TIP Depending on the number of exhibitors, you could produce a brochure

with a layout of the venue and the location of each organisation’s stand to help attendees find their way around the hall.

Running order

A typical running order for the day:

8.30 am Venue open to exhibitors to set up10.00 am Fair opens to the public10.30 am MP or special guest opens the Fair12.00 pm Special guest masterclass/presentation2.00 pm Fair closes3.00 pm Exhibitors to have cleared hall

Promotion

Promoting your Apprenticeships Fair is essential to attract lots of exhibitors and attendees.

Promote the Fair on your website, social media, in the local press, and by partnering with local schools, colleges and the Jobcentre Plus to advertise the event to students, young people and jobseekers.

Produce promotional materials, including as posters and flyers, and supply them to all exhibitors and partner schools and colleges in advance of the Fair. Encourage schools and colleges to display the posters and promote the Fair during assemblies. Ask schools and colleges to arrange a coach to the Fair from their campus.

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TOP

TIP An easy way to distribute promotional materials is to make them

available to download alongside the details of the Apprenticeship Fair on your website.

Organising an Apprenticeships Fair

Who should be invited?

1. Constituents

Most importantly, open your Fair to any local constituent looking for a job, apprenticeship, or a career change – remember that apprenticeships are not just for 16–25 year olds.

Extend invitations to the Fair through your local Jobcentre Plus, local schools and sixth form colleges and the careers departments at any local universities.

2. Employers - of all sizes

Extend your exhibitors’ invitation to employers of all sectors and sizes in your constituency, from multi-national corporations to independent retailers.

Advertising for exhibition slots can be done on your parliamentary website, but for maximum visibility ask local press and radio to advertise too. You could also write directly to local businesses in your constituency.

You may also want to advertise any sponsorship opportunities for local businesses (for example, advertising in the event brochure), to help cover the cost of the venue hire and pay for publicity. You might want to speak to large employers in your constituency and try to get two or three of them to sponsor the event.

Display the full list of exhibitors online before the event to give any residents attending the time to research the organisations and plan their visit.

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TIP

For ease of registering, create an online application form so people can register to attend easily and quickly

Toolkit for MPs

3. Skills providers

Businesses which provide employment-related skills training are useful organisations to invite as there will be many people exploring the Fair who may not have decided on a career or whether an apprenticeship is for them.

Training and skills providers can also add something extra to the agenda, such as a CV-masterclass workshops or a drop-in career advice clinic.

4. Governmental bodies and agencies

Organisations such as Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service are helpful resources to draw on when organising the Apprenticeship Fair, in addition to providing a first port of call at the Fair for all residents.

The Job Centre will be able to advise you on the types of training programmes that residents are seeking, enabling you to focus your invitations to exhibit on the sectors where there is most demand.

These organisations will also advertise the Fair to their clients.

5. Local press

Invite journalists from local print and broadcast media along to your Apprenticeship Fair to cover the event and help with advance publicity.

In the run-up to the event try to schedule stories that can be published to help promote the event. Examples can include a launch story at a local business, or a good news story highlighting a successful local business looking to expand.

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TIP You could invite SMEs that might not currently employ apprentices to

attend and ask a local college to send a staff member to talk to about the opportunities employing apprentices can offer to SMEs.

Organising an Apprenticeships Fair

When?

The best time to hold an Apprenticeship Fair is from January to April as it is when most final year school students start thinking about their next steps.

National Apprenticeship Week – normally held in March (exact date varies) is a particularly good time to hold it. Hundreds of events take place across the country during National Apprenticeship Week to spread the word about the benefits of apprenticeships for young people, employers and the economy.

The Week is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service, to find out more about National Apprenticeship Week visit the government’s website here.

Where?

If possible, try to find a venue in your constituency that will host the Apprenticeship Fair at no extra cost. Think about where you hold constituency surgeries – schools, council buildings, community centres – as these could be suitable if large enough.

You may want to consider partnering with a local business, charity or other service (such as the Job Centre) who will have a suitable space. In exchange for using the space, you could offer their names on the invitations, posters and other promotional material or calling the event “Apprenticeship Fair, in association with Jobcentre Plus”.

Feedback

If you have organised an Apprenticeship Fair in your constituency, we would love to hear about it and any tips you may have.

Please contact the secretariat Connect Communications on ApprenticeshipsAPPG@connectpa.co.uk or tweet us on @ApprenticeAPPG

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TIP You could hold a roving surgery at your Apprenticeships Fair? Find a

venue with a private room and arrange appointments with constituents during the day.

Toolkit for MPs

Template press release

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Organising an Apprenticeships Fair

Havant MP Alan Mak announces return of Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair for second year

Following a hugely successful inaugural event, the Havant Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fair will return on 3 March for a second year.

Organised by local MP Alan Mak, the popular event is set to be “bigger and better” with more than a thousand jobs, apprenticeships and roles on offer.

Building on the success of last year, Mr Mak said the Fair was the perfect opportunity for anyone searching for work or looking for a career change. Representatives from dozens of industries from both the public and private sectors, ranging from the Armed Forces to care agencies and retail, will be on hand to offer jobs and advice.

With around 100 exhibitors, the event will this year be taking place at Havant Leisure Centre on Friday 3 March from 10am to 4pm and is free for anybody living in the Havant constituency – which includes Havant Town, Emsworth, Hayling Island, Bedhampton, Langstone, Purbrook, Stakes, Widley and Leigh Park. Friends, family, parents and guardians of young people are also encouraged to attend.

Mr Mak said: “Last year we had fabulous support from the community for my Jobs Fair. I am delighted the Fair will return in March. We’re fortunate to have low unemployment locally, but we should never be complacent and should be aiming to get everyone into work, an apprenticeship or training. I am also keen to showcase some of the excellent employers we have locally, such as Hayling’s Medina Joinery who exhibited last year.”

“A strong local economy is my top priority, and more jobs means rising living standards, growing investment and successful local businesses. I encourage anyone who is thinking about changing career, looking for work or considering an apprenticeship to come along on the day and find out more.”

The Fair is also supported by the Havant Job Centre who will be providing advice on the day. Specialist workshops will also be provided by the National Careers Service on CV building and job interview techniques.

There is still space for exhibitors, any business wishing to get involved should email alan.mak.mp@parliament.uk for more information. 

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Toolkit for MPs

Tuesday 10 January 2017

Join me at the Havant Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fair 2017

I am writing to invite you to participate in my second Havant Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fair, taking place on Friday 3 March 2017 between 10am and 4pm at Havant Leisure Centre.

Strengthening our local economy, backing local businesses, and helping local people back into work is my top priority as a local MP. I am working with Havant Job Centre and other partners to help local people get a job or apprenticeship, and build or extend their career.

Those attending will also be able to receive useful tips on employability, from help on writing CVs through to advice on interview techniques. We will also be promoting apprenticeships strongly. As Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships it is an area of great personal interest.

The Fair will be a high profile event covered by local media, including the Portsmouth News, Postcode Publications and the Hayling Islander, and will give you the opportunity to showcase your organisation to a wider audience as well as demonstrating your social responsibility as an employer.

Although taking place in Havant, anyone from the constituency and the wider region is welcome to this free event which we hope will attract well over 1,000 people. We are hoping that by taking part in this event you will help us to build on last year’s success and strengthen the Fair’s status as a key community event.

Whilst I understand the event is still someway off, and you might not know at this stage if you will have any vacancies, I invite you to take part in the Fair as either an exhibitor, sponsor, or both. Some overview details are in the attached information sheet.

Please be advised that this event is free for exhibitors, but in order to cover some costs we are asking for voluntary donations of £100 for firms with an annual turnover of £100,000 or more.

Please could you let me know if you are interested in taking part? If you are, please let me as soon as possible and by 5pm on 31 January, 2017 at the latest. Please send back the completed form and email it to Alan.Mak.MP@parliament.uk.

Yours sincerely,Alan Mak MP, Member of Parliament for Havant

Template invite to exhibit/sponsor

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Havant Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fair 2017– Overview for potential exhibitors

Date & VenueFriday 3 March 2017, Havant Leisure Centre

TimeThe Fair will run from 10am to 4pm. Exhibitors should be at the venue by 9am at the latest.

Exhibitors must stay for the entire duration of the Fair to give attendees the best opportunity to see all of what is available.

FormatEach organisation will be allocated a table at the Leisure Centre. Promotional materials can be displayed on and around the table.

What does my organisation need to bring on the day?At least one staff representative.

Promotional materials: Pop-up stand, banner, leaflets etc.

Jobs and ApprenticeshipsJobs and Apprenticeships can be full-time or part-time roles.

CostsThere is no charge to exhibit, but to help us cover our costs we ask all firms with an annual turnover of £100,000 or more to make a voluntary donation of £100. This can be paid via cheque or via bank transfer. Please indicate on the registration of interest form if your organisation is able to contribute.

Alan Mak MP and his staff reserve the right to reject applications to exhibit or impose such conditions on exhibitors as they see fit.

Sponsorship opportunitiesThere are a limited number of opportunities to be involved in the event – and related media coverage – as a sponsor.

Please let us know of your interest, and we will provide you with further details.

Costs range from £1,500 to be an event sponsor to £250 for a half-page advert in the widely distributed event programme.

Organising an Apprenticeships Fair

Template invite to exhibit/sponsor

13

Toolkit for MPs

Havant Jobs, Apprenticeships and Careers Fair 2017– Registration of Interest Form

Please complete and post or email back to Alan.Mak.MP@parliament.uk by 5pm on Tuesday 31 January

Company details Name

Address

Postcode

Phone number

What sector is your organisation in?

How would you like your organisation to be involved? (Tick all that apply)

Exhibit – we’ll bring a stand and people.

Sponsor – contact us to discuss options.

Host a visit by Alan.

Name and contact details of the person responsible for Job Fair liaison

Name

Job Title

Email address

Work landline

Mobile number

Number of jobs you may be able to offer at the Fair

Number of apprenticeships you may be able to offer at the Fair

How many representatives from your organisation are you planning on bringing?

What promotional material are you likely to bring to the Fair? (e.g pop-up stand, banners, leaflets etc.)

How many car parking spaces will you need? And at what times and for how long?

How many plug sockets do you need access to, if any?

If your organisation has an annual turnover of £100,000 or more, can you provide a voluntary donation of £100?

Yes

No

Any special requests?

Template application form

n Looking for work?n A change of job? n Part-time work?

n Getting back into work? n Apprenticeships?n Career advice?

Friday 3rd March 2017Doors open 10am–4pmHavant Leisure Centre Civic Centre Road Havant PO9 2AY

Havant Jobs & Apprenticeships Fair is organised by Alan Mak MP

With support from:

Visit Alan’s website to sign-up for his e-mail newsletter

w: AlanMak.org.uk t: 023 9241 5620 e: Alan.Mak.MP@Parliament.UK @AlanMakMP

Havant Jobs, Apprenticeships &

Careers Fair

FREE Admission

Promoted by Alan Mak MP of Building 6000, Langstone Technology Park, Langstone Road, Havant, PO9 1SA. Printed by Senator Press, Hayward Business Centre, New Lane, Havant, PO9 2NL.

ALAN MAK MP’s 2ND

CV WRITING WORKSHOP 10.30am and 1pm

INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP 11.30am and 2pm

APPRENTICESHIPS WORKSHOP 12.15pm and 3pm

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Organising an Apprenticeships Fair

Template poster

The APPG on Apprenticeships is sponsored by:

all party parliamentary group on

apprenticeshipsappg

For more information about the APPG on Apprenticeships, please contact the secretariat Connect Communications on ApprenticeshipsAPPG@connectpa.co.uk or call 020 7592 9490

Follow the Group on Twitter @ApprenticeAPPG