Busy event: Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena was full ( Pic. Huw John)

YOUNG people from across Pembrokeshire were given a taste of different career options at SkillsCymru 2016, Wales’ largest careers fair, which took place at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena last week.

The event saw more than 50 employers exhibiting their range of career opportunities, including NHS Wales, Horizon Nuclear Power, Aldi and the RAF. Attendees were given the chance to meet apprentices and employers from a range of different industries including manufacturing, medicine, teaching, tourism, caring and catering.

British astronaut Tim Peake, who visited Techniquest on Thursday, October 13, spoke to students at SkillsCymru via a live link to the event. Students heard Tim talk about the important science experiments he conducted during his mission for researchers across the planet, including trying to gro w blood vessels and protein crystals, as well as using a furnace to melt and cool metal alloys as they float in mid-air.

The free event was attended by thousands of young people from schools, further education colleges and work-based learning providers across Wales, including Ysgol Bro Gwaun. The students were able to take part in interactive games, challenges, mock job interviews and were able to quiz exhibitors about career opportunities, learning routes and get careers advice for the future.

They were put through their paces by the British Army, had their welding skills tested using Lincoln Electric’s virtual reality simulator and took part in drama workshops with the Arts Council of Wales.

Thomas Roach-Carter, aged 15, joined fellow students from Ysgol Bro Gwaun at Skills Cymru where they had the chance to visit interactive stands and ask professionals for any career advice.

He said: “I’ve tried so many activities today such as the mocktail making with Cambrian Training. It has been great to look around the different stands. I’m currently doing my GCSE’s and wanting to go onto college so today I have spoken to some of the colleges and they’ve given me some helpful advice.”

Julie James, Minister for Skills and Science, attended the event and took the opportunity to listen to a performance of drums by students in the ‘Get Skilled’ workshop, run by the Arts Council of Wales, and met youngsters as they found out about apprenticeship opportunities and job vacancies.

Minister Julie James said: “SkillsCymru is a significant event in the careers calendar and is a must for anyone looking to find out more about the career opportunities in Wales from apprenticeships and other vocational routes to higher education or college courses.

“For many of the young people visiting, this was their first chance to speak to employers face-to-face and ask questions in a relaxed environment to find out what skills are required to achieve their dream job. It was really refreshing to see so many young people getting involved in the different hands-on activities and getting inspiration about their dream job and future career path.”

Part-financed through the European Social Fund, SkillsCymru is organised by Prospects and Cazbah, and supported by the Welsh Government. The careers events, which each year attract more than 10,000 visitors, take place annually at Venue Cymru in Llandudno and the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.