00:00Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair is a big careers event at the arena.
00:04This is the 14th year that the fair's run, so it's been going on for a while.
00:08We have around about 11,000 visitors here today we expect, and over 100 exhibitors in
00:15every single sector.
00:17So visitors can come along and find out more about apprenticeships, what they involve,
00:21how they work, they can view and apply for vacancies, and most importantly they can meet
00:26with different organisations, training providers and employers.
00:30People are quite surprised by the breadth of opportunities available.
00:34Sometimes people have a perception in their mind that manufacturing is only about the conveyor
00:38belt, that kind of production line.
00:40I think they miss the point about the HR, the health and safety, the IT, the digital, so
00:45I think the breadth of opportunity is quite overwhelming and surprising for some.
00:50I'm here today with the Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which is all about raising the profile
00:55of manufacturing and engineering, which is still an incredibly important sector for the
01:00City of Leeds.
01:01We've got a group of manufacturing employers who are all exhibiting together today, promoting
01:07careers in the sector to young people.
01:10Some of them have got apprenticeship vacancies that they're recruiting to, but we've also
01:14got a number of young apprentices with us talk to visitors about what it's like working
01:20in the sector.
01:21I think getting real world experience in such a competitive place, especially in the engineering
01:28sector, it is something I'm proud of.
01:32I think it's really easy to get disheartened after a few emails, a couple of talks and that
01:39disappointment at the start.
01:41But if you stay persistent, opportunities do arise and it can happen.
01:46I started out at Leeds City College when I was 16, so I did a journalism course at Quarry
01:51Hill.
01:52And part of that, I just learned different skills about how you could get into content
01:55creation, journalism, photography.
01:57And I always knew I wanted to do an apprenticeship, so I was always looking for opportunities.
02:02So I was quite young when I came into an apprenticeship, so it was a bit daunting going from the
02:06college
02:06environment into the workplace.
02:08So I just say, it's going to be OK, your colleagues will be there to look after you and you're
02:11not
02:11expected to know everything on your first day, trust me, you'll be absolutely fine.
02:15We are looking for fire and security install engineers.
02:18It really does offer a massive platform for people to progress their careers, develop into
02:24all sorts of different roles.
02:25And year on year, we're getting more and more people applying.
02:29It's a really popular route.
02:30Apprenticeship is a really great opportunity to earn while you learn.
02:34You don't come away with a mountain of debt, as you would if you went through a traditional
02:38university degree.
02:41And for young people, it's a great introduction to the world of work.
02:46It's really opened people's eyes and aspirations.
02:49It's really raised their aspirations for what they can achieve.
02:52Hopefully it's good for those who both have an idea of what they're interested in and those
02:55who aren't, give people ideas and different opportunities for the future.
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