BUSINESSES in Cumbria are being called upon to support a jobs and apprenticeships fair in March.

Kendal College and the National Careers Service want local businesses to get involved in this year’s Jobs & Apprenticeship Fair, which is to be held at the College’s main campus in Kendal on March 17.

The fair aims to raise awareness of employment opportunities and encourage entrepreneurialism. It follows on from the success of a similar event last year, which saw more than 600 people attend.

In addition to employers and training providers, Kendal College and the National Careers Service are also looking for some extra inspirational guest speakers to talk to attendees about their own experiences.

Speakers currently confirmed include the 2015 National Entrepreneur of the Year, Kamal Hyman. At just 21 years old, Kamal is one of the UK’s youngest and most inspiring professional speakers and has already addressed over 25,000 students across the UK.

Joining Kamal will be the Director of Innovative Enterprise, Andrew Bernard. Andrew has worked with around 90,000 young people in the last 10 years to develop their entrepreneurial skills, explore their career options and help them to focus on the future.

Employers already signed up to attend the event include Gilkes, the Lake District National Park, the Forestry Commission, and Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

Graham Wilkinson, Principal at Kendal College, said: “Demand for apprenticeship courses at Kendal College is at an all-time high so events like this one in conjunction with key employers and training providers are crucial in getting people to understand all the different options that are open to them."

The Jobs & Apprenticeship Fair will run from 1pm to 5pm.

For more information on the Kendal College Jobs & Apprenticeship Fair, contact Adele Mundy on adele.mundy@kendal.ac.uk or call 01539 814700.