A successful economy depends on people being passionate about their work

The entire country benefits when opportunity and aspiration are extended to all through apprenticeships, work placements, training schemes and, ultimately, fully-fledged careers. The economy grows, individuals gain the independence to support themselves and their families, and the skills makeup of society increases and widens.

A successful economy depends on people being passionate about their work, and passion for work comes when someone finds the thing that makes them tick. Today’s Careers Fair is an opportunity for students to explore a whole range of different career and training routes – things they had never considered before, and perhaps did not even know existed as options. It is a chance for them to talk through their choices with advisers, experts and those who have been through the same process.

For the first time, however, today’s Careers Fair is not just for students. We are also opening it up to parents and carers, whether they are out of work, looking for a big career change or just a new challenge within the same field. Opportunities should not be limited to the fortunate, or to the young – they should be open to all.

We are welcoming businesses, charities and organisations from across the region. From small local businesses to large national organisations, from apprenticeship schemes to training providers - across a diverse range of industries and specialisms there is a whole world of options and we are incredibly grateful to everyone attending for their support and time, and the inspiration we are confident they will provide.

No one ever truly knows what their future may hold, but our aim is to ensure that the young people of Hailsham and beyond are able to benefit from seeing in front of them some of the opportunities that are available to them – so that they might go forward with passion and excitement for how they can shape their futures to help them to be the very best that they can be.