Nearly 2,000 students from across North East Lincolnshire gathered at Grimsby Auditorium earlier this week as the annual Skills Fair made its much-anticipated return.
Designed to connect young people with future career and education opportunities, the event continues to grow year-on-year.
Now in its 11th year, the Skills Fair is organised by North East Lincolnshire Council with support from Franklin College, Grimsby Institute, and Wilkin Chapman LLP. This year’s event brought almost 2,000 year 10 students face-to-face with over 60 exhibitors from across the region, including universities, local employers, training providers, and national organisations such as the British Army, NHS, and leading businesses from the seafood sector.
CJ Stephens, Associate Principal for School Partnerships and Student Experience with Franklin College, spoke about the partnership, saying: “Franklin is extremely proud to be involved in the Skills Fair. It’s such an inspirational event showcasing the incredible opportunities available to young people right on their doorstep.
“It’s all about inspiring the next generation, raising aspirations and equipping them with the knowledge and information they need to achieve their goals. It’s great to see so many schools from across the region getting involved and enjoying the day.”
Hugh Callaway, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the TEC Partnership, spoke after the event: “The Skills Fair is a crucial event, offering young people from North East Lincolnshire the chance to explore the fantastic post-school education and training opportunities available. The fair was a huge success, and I’d like to extend a big thank you to everyone who helped organise it, as well as the hundreds of young people who took part. As an exhibitor, we were delighted to showcase the opportunities waiting for them after school.”
A major highlight of the day was the STEM Village, sponsored by Phillips 66, which showcased cutting-edge careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths. Students took part in hands-on activities, virtual reality experiences, and live demonstrations, offering a glimpse into the dynamic industries shaping the Humber region’s future.
Nina Stobart, Communications Lead at Phillips 66, spoke about the importance of events for both schools and employers: “As always, it’s great to be a part of the Skills Fair. We are lucky to have the local investment in to skills and careers that we have through the Council to allow every year 10 student from across the county to attend.
“As a prominent regional employee, it is imperative that Phillips 66 support events like this and we are proud to sponsor again the STEM village and alongside many other great local companies, we can show the students not just the careers available to them but the opportunity to get hands on, and to speak to some amazing role models.”
The fair also highlighted the region’s growing demand for skilled workers. According to industry forecasts, the Humber will require over 12,000 new workers in energy and construction, and 10,000 in offshore energy by 2030. The Skills Fair plays a vital role in preparing local students to meet this demand.
Construction management company GMI, currently leading the regeneration of Grimsby’s Freshney Place, also took part in the event, demonstrating how major local developments are creating real opportunities on young people’s doorsteps. Their presence supported the Council’s commitment to ensuring that regeneration projects deliver not just physical transformation, but long-term employment and training benefits for residents.
Brendan Tannam, GMI Responsible Business Partner, said: “We’re here to promote opportunities within the business to the next generation of local people. We have roles including quantity surveying and site management design; we just want to highlight the different roles on offer”.
Councillor Margaret Cracknell, Portfolio Holder for Children and Education, praised the event’s success: “This event highlights the incredible potential and numerous pathways available right here in North East Lincolnshire. By raising aspirations and connecting our young people with future careers, we are building a brighter, more prosperous future for our community.
“The Skills Fair is a testament to what we can achieve when we collaborate with our partners to support and guide the next generation. Together, we are ensuring that our young people are well-equipped to meet the demands of tomorrow’s workforce and can contribute to our region’s growth and success.”
The 11th annual Skills Fair took place at Grimsby Auditorium on Wednesday 9th July 2025.
Young people aged 16 to 18 can access careers, education and training support all year-round by contacting the Young People’s Support Service (YPSS) at [email protected].
For employer tips, words from the students and to see the highlights from the day, watch the Skills Fair 2025 playlist on Youtube.
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