On 15 January, Cotton Court Business Centre, working alongside the Restart team, hosted its first Jobs Fair, bringing together over 200 candidates and 25 local employers, training providers and support organisations. The event demonstrated the value of local networks coming together with a shared focus on employment and skills.
A collaborative approach to employability
The Jobs Fair was delivered through close collaboration with Matt, Lisa and the Restart team, alongside a wider group of local partners. On the day, there was a collective effort to ensure candidates and exhibitors felt welcome, supported and well connected, creating the right conditions for productive conversations.
The mix in the room was key. Employers were able to talk openly about recruitment needs and skills gaps, training providers could explain how they support sector-specific roles, and employability programmes helped candidates understand practical next steps.
Creating the right conditions for sustainable outcomes
The real opportunity sits in the combined network of local employers, training providers and candidates. By linking roles with the right training and support, candidates feel better prepared and more confident, improving the likelihood of long-term outcomes in work.
What exhibitors told us
Feedback from exhibitors reflected what we set out to achieve:
- Motivated, engaged candidates
- Strong support and facilitation on the day
- Value in having employers, training providers and employability support working together
- Conversations that moved quickly towards practical next steps
Looking ahead
We’re building on the momentum from this first Jobs Fair and planning what’s next. If your organisation is recruiting locally or delivers training or employability programmes that support people into work, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect.
For more information about future events, please contact amy@cottoncourt.co.uk.