Hundreds of job seekers and school leavers searching for their dream career were inspired at the Copeland Skills Fair.

Businesses and organisations offering apprenticeships and training opportunities across a range of sectors including health and social care, tourism, engineering, policing and the armed forces were invited to exhibit at the fair at the Solway Hall in Whitehaven.

Now in its third year, the skills fair also welcomed training providers including UCLan, Workington Sixth Form and Gen2 to provide helpful career guidance and information.

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “The diversity of training and employment available in Copeland and West Cumbria was brilliant to see at my skills fair. With a broader range of opportunities than ever before, I was so pleased to welcome people of all ages to see what’s on offer.

“I’m especially grateful to the sponsors who made the event possible NNL and Cumberland Building Society. From medical, health and social care to tourism and hospitality, engineering, business and farming, the opportunities in Copeland are plentiful and provide a range of entry options.”

NNL external relations director, Adrian Bull, said: “As the National Nuclear Laboratory we have a mandate from Government to help safeguard the critical skills that underpin the nuclear sector, so attraction and development of the brightest and best talent is fundamental to our work. We were therefore delighted to, once again, be a sponsor of this important event.

“Our representatives on the NNL stand enjoyed meeting those who came to talk to us, and we’ve already seen some significant interest in attendees expressing interest in either securing work placements with us or seeking full time positions with us.”

And Cumberland Building Society’s corporate social responsibility and communications executive, Becky Townsend, said: “What’s been brilliant to see is the number of businesses and other organisations who came together to make Copeland Skills Fair a success once again this year.

“Especially with everyone having that shared goal of highlighting the wide range of opportunities available for people in our local communities, right across our region.Whether that is someone taking those first steps into employment or those looking for a new direction.”

James Manser, learning facilitator at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We were delighted to join the event and speak with young people, more mature people and explain all the offers that are available in the NHS.

“For people that are going to be leaving school or college and for those that are looking for a new career, we have had a lot of interest, a lot of people who are not sure what they want to do that are seeing the NHS as a good career n local people that want to stay in the area which is really important for us too.

“We do have nurse degree apprentices now and speaking about those to young people I think has really opened their eyes to being able to achieve something and stay local, which is really important so hopefully we will see those people in the future working for us.”