Finding your apprentice: jobs fairs and recruitment events

Jobs fairs are an ideal way to highlight your career opportunities, as thousands of employers discovered this year during another successful National Apprenticeship Week.  

Businesses and organisations in hugely diverse sectors exhibited at, hosted and, in some cases, sponsored events designed to promote apprenticeships in NAW held from February 10-16th 2025. 

And, as you review your marketing budget in the run up to the financial year end, now is a good time to consider what other shows, fairs and events might be worth investing in.  

Recruitment exhibitions and jobs fairs take place throughout the year and are often timed to coincide with the end of school or college term when learners are actively looking at their career and training options. 

If you'd like to take an exhibition stand, look at an event's website and find out which employers are attending and what packages might be available. Some 2025 events will already be fully subscribed, but it might be worth contacting the organisers to see if there are any exhibitor places left. 

Do your research 

A quick search on Google will bring up lots of recruitment events and exhibitions at venues right across the UK, so you're likely to be spoilt for choice.  

But taking part in a jobs fair is an investment so you'll want to find the one/s that represent the best return on your time and money. 

Before signing up to an event:  

• Attend as a visitor. That will give you a much better feel for who's there and what's on offer. You'll be able to see what sorts of businesses are exhibiting and how busy, or not, the event is. 

• Find out how long the organisers have been running the fair or exhibition and seek out testimonials from earlier exhibitors. Is there a gallery on the website featuring photos from last year's event and does the show receive plenty of positive comments and 'likes' on social media?  

• Talk to exhibitors. Do they return to this event year after year and has taking a stand there resulted in them finding the right apprenticeship candidates? 

• Look at what's included in the exhibitors' stand package. Will your company's involvement be promoted across several social media platforms, for instance?  

• Ask if the event features workshops or seminars. These can really help you 'sell' your business by giving potential apprentices more in-depth information on what you do and who you're looking for.  

Partner with FE colleges and other training providers  

Further Education colleges and other training providers regularly run or host jobs fairs. They're always happy to team up with reputable local employers who might be offering apprenticeship or T Level work experience placements.  

And they'll know who among their full-time learners might be best suited to becoming your apprentice or T level trainee.  

You might even want to hold a jobs fair on your own premises with the help of your training provider. Many colleges with strong employer links do this as part of a joined up, collaborative approach to education, skills training and employment.  

Your current and former apprentices will be able to help market your opportunities for you, giving show attendees first-hand accounts of what it's like to be on your company's apprenticeship scheme.  

There are so many opportunities out there, including events targeted specifically to your industry such as in teaching, building, engineering and healthcare, so don't miss out.  

Among the larger apprenticeship events coming up very soon is The National Careers Event (Skills Show Midlands) which takes place at Millenium Point, Birmingham on Tuesday 25 March 2025.  

This one-day Midlands-based event is aimed at students aged from 15 to 24, their careers teachers, parents and guardians. It is one of several exhibitions run by the same organisers at major city venues across England and Wales and, like most jobs' fairs, it is free to attend.  

For employers in the south, there's the London Job Show at Westfield, Shepherds Bush on April 25 and 26. Billed as London's biggest career event, it showcases thousands of employment and training opportunities, including apprenticeships.  

Information on upcoming in-person and virtual apprenticeship events - including the Millennium Point, Birmingham show referenced above - can also be found on the official National  

Apprenticeship Week 2025 website here!