Government jobs fairs launch careers in tourism trades as summer jobs soar

Airport, festival, and hospitality jobs are taking off and being snapped up, with over 13,000 jobs available on the Government’s Find a Job page, as across the country government jobs fairs have been connecting people with available opportunities.

As restrictions lift worldwide, and with airports gearing up for an increase in demand after two challenging years, father and son James and Jimmy Reilly both secured jobs at Gatwick Airport following a jobs fair in Crawley, working at Gatwick Ground Services (GGS).

James has joined the aircraft appearance team, which involves planning and organising the cleaning and washing services on airplanes to ensure they remain safe, while Jimmy will be joining the GGS baggage handling team.

James said:

“My Dad and I attended the Gatwick Jobs Fair as I wanted to get a job working with GGS at Gatwick Airport. My Dad worked for BA for nearly 30 years.”

A further 1,200 airport jobs – some available for interview on the day – are on offer at a free two-day jobs fair at Spectrum House Jobcentre, Crawley this week.

In Newquay, 62-year-old Ann secured a job on the spot at Parkdean holiday park as a receptionist when she attended a jobs fair in Newquay.

At their local jobs fair in Bishop Auckland DWP Work Coach Julie has helped a jobseeker with autism to secure a role with Bridge Creative, a social enterprise employer that supports people with learning disabilities to work at festivals and build art installations for festivals.

Julie, a DWP Work Coach in Bishop Auckland, says:

“Work Coaches like me are on the frontline helping break down any barriers jobseekers might face, and by working with employers, bringing them to our jobs fairs and ensuring our young people get the chance to meet the employers, we are helping to fill local roles, and boosting the local economy.”

The recent labour market statistics have shown that despite the challenges of the pandemic, employment remains stable, unemployment is now at pre-pandemic levels for the first time, and there continue to be opportunities out there, with a record 1.3 million vacancies up for grabs. In January, the government announced the Way to Work scheme to get half a million people into work, earn more money, and build a career, in sectors that are vital for our economic recovery.

As part of a package of support for sectors recovering from the pandemic, the Government has announced the Aviation Skills Retention Platform, a website set up to connect jobseekers with sector-specific skills as well as the existing support available through the Plan for Jobs including Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which help give jobseekers new skills to match local demand.

Summer jobs can be the start of careers, with Work Coaches continuing to support people to progress, or help them to use the skills and experience they acquire to get into the next role.