Hundreds get their foot in the door at Derbyshire jobs fair

More than 300 jobseekers connected with local employers, businesses and organisations at the Pride Park Stadium in Derby for the return of Severn Trent's Big Boost.

The event brought Derby residents face-to-face with employers offering jobs, apprenticeships and career opportunities across the region, helping many get their foot in the door with potential future employers.

As well as meeting recruiters from more than 25 organisations, visitors were able to access practical support to boost their job prospects. This included one-to-one CV advice, interview preparation sessions and the chance to experience virtual reality interview training designed to help build confidence and skills.

East Midlands Airport, Derby City Council and UK Visa Centre were among the employers that attended on the day, as well as the Department for Work and Pensions, Kindeva Drug Delivery and Now Education.

Severn Trent teams were also on hand throughout the day to discuss careers within the company and offer support with bills and financial assistance.

Martin Thomas, Growth and Development Manager at Chesterfield College, attended the event to engage with regional employers.

He said: “This year’s Big Boost for Derby event was a great day which gave me the opportunity to network with employers to discuss the full college offer. There was a large turnout, and the event was well organised which meant I didn’t have to wait too long to speak to each of the employers.

“I had a good conversation with the Severn Trent team, looking to explore opportunities of working together collaboratively to help future generations into apprenticeships through school engagement. We discussed opportunities for the young population of Derbyshire not in education, employment, or training (NEET) and investigated the possibility of work experience projects.”

Roisin McBain, Social Impact Delivery Manager at Severn Trent, said: “Big Boost is all about bringing opportunities and people together, and that's exactly what happened in Derby. It was fantastic to see jobseekers speaking directly with employers, exploring different career paths and accessing practical support that could help them take their next step.

“The enthusiasm from both attendees and employers created a real buzz throughout the day and highlighted the value of creating these connections within our communities. We'd like to thank all the organisations that joined us and helped make the event such a success.”

Big Boost is one of a number of initiatives designed by Severn Trent to help people in the region develop new skills, gain employment and build rewarding careers. Alongside events in Birmingham, Coventry and Leicester, Big Boost contributes to the company's goal of helping 100,000 people fulfil their career ambitions by 2032.

Last month alone, Severn Trent welcomed 100 apprentices and 68 graduates, marking its largest-ever graduate intake and underscoring its continued investment in the next generation of talent.