Inspiring young children across Tendring to consider careers in local services

An event aimed at inspiring primary school aged children to think about a career in local public and private sector organisations has taken place in Clacton.

Over 200 primary school children from nine schools across Clacton, Harwich and Elmstead Market visited the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) Careers Fair at the Town Hall.

Evidence shows that children start to form ideas about their future as they start primary school – 1145_What works Primary_digital version_07_01_2019.pdf (careersandenterprise.co.uk)

Local leaders say it is crucial that the system helps to inspire them to do so.

The event was organised by the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), Essex County Council and Tendring District Council.

In addition to the organisers, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, East of England Ambulance Service, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, the Port of Felixstowe, Essex Police and Colchester Zoo were among the organisations represented during the day-long event.

Director of Workforce and People at the ICB, Amanda Lyes, said: “Events like this are invaluable because we are nurturing young people, encouraging them to consider a career in our local services.

“We want tomorrow’s workforce to comprise young people who live within their community to be equipped with the necessary skills and aspirations to succeed.

“This approach supports the national levelling up agenda and bridges a gap between education and local employers while seeking to reduce differences in health inequality.”

Kerrey Goosetree, Tendring Place Co-ordinator at the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, was one of the organisers.  She said: “We have tried to focus on sectors that have science, technology, engineering, arts and maths as a core skill base.

“So a mix of different various roles which are often challenging to recruit into.”

Kerrey added: “This was the first time we have held an event like this in Tendring in partnership with our council colleagues.  We wanted it to be as interactive as possible.

“It was not just an opportunity for children to interact with exhibitors.  Schools were able to mix as well.

“We are grateful to Essex County Council’s Future Skills Programme which provided funding to all of the schools to cover their transport costs so they could get the children to this event.”

Paramedic Karen Bradford, who has worked for the East of England Ambulance Service for the past 18 years, said: “These events are incredibly important. 

“They are multi-faceted because although children here today are younger – year 6 and above – what’s really important is that we sow that seed early about what we do and the different types of roles and work we do.

“Children at this age – as you would expect – do not know what jobs exist so how can they think about their future if they don’t know what jobs are out there.”