Skills Expo returns to help shape the future of work in Worcestershire

Skills Expo returns to Sixways Stadium next month, bringing together thousands of school students, employers and education providers to help shape the future of work experience across the county.

Skills Expo, formerly The Worcestershire Skills Show, takes place on 4–5 March and is the region’s largest careers event for students. Over two dedicated school days, pupils from schools across Worcestershire will have the opportunity to meet local, national and international employers from a wide range of industries, as well as connect with local skills, training and education providers.

The event, organised by Worcestershire County Council’s Skills & Employability service, comes at a time when the way work experience is delivered in schools is changing. Rather than relying on a single one-week placement, work experience will move towards being built across a young person’s secondary school life, through a mix of workplace visits, short placements, employer-led projects and talks.

Skills Expo provides an ideal opportunity for students to engage directly with employers, explore different sectors and begin thinking about future pathways, while supporting this broader approach to work experience.

Councillor Alan Amos, Cabinet Member for Business and Skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Many of us will remember the disappointment of a work experience placement that just didn’t work, and I remain frustrated that young people often have to wait until almost leaving school before discovering the world of employment. That approach is frankly outdated.

I welcome changes to work experience that benefit students and employers alike, and I applaud the work being done by our Early Careers Worcestershire team. With their partners, Worcestershire Growth Hub and the Careers and Enterprise Company, they are supporting schools and employers as we transition to a modern approach. Events like Skills Expo highlight the importance of businesses, schools and council services working together to help shape and strengthen the county’s education and economic future.”

Matt Tope, Programme Manager for Early Careers Worcestershire, added: “Skills Expo is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore career options and engage directly with employers they may never otherwise encounter. It also gives careers leaders from Worcestershire schools a valuable chance to build relationships with employers who want to support young people and play a role in shaping future work experience.”

Alongside the two student days, Skills Expo will also host a parent and carer evening on Monday 4 March, from 4pm to 7pm. This free, open-to-the-public event gives parents and carers the chance to speak directly with employers and better understand the changing landscape of work experience.

More information about Skills Expo is is available online.