Thousands of jobs on offer at Job Scene 2003

Up to 8,000 jobs are up for grabs at Northern Ireland’s largest employment and training fair which opened in Belfast on Friday.

Thousands of visitors were expected to pour through the doors of the Odyssey Arena to see the vast range of education, careers and job opportunities on offer at the event over the next two days.

Speaking at the official opening, Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning said: "This year’s Job Scene promises to be bigger and better than ever and I would extend a vote of thanks to all those exhibitors and visitors whose participation helps to make it such a huge success.

"Some 8,000 job opportunities are on offer during the two-day event and visitors to Job Scene will be able to investigate a substantial menu of career opportunities including nursing, the navy, the fire brigade, social work, the civil service and investment services."

Highlighting a new initiative between the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) to create a major new attraction in the vocational skills sector, Mr Shannon said: "The construction of an interactive ‘Skills Village’ brings together a range of skills in one setting and allows visitors to try their hand at a variety of trades and skills from beauty therapy and jewellery making to stone masonry and catering.

"On the education front, DEL’s Further and Higher Education Colleges are here in force with a multiplicity of courses on offer, while our universities are here too and the Department’s Student Support team is on hand to advise those considering taking the important step to higher education."

The event will be open to the public on both Friday and Saturday between 10am to 4pm.

Job Scene Northern Ireland is part of a national series of events organised by TJW Exhibitions which also visits London, Cardiff, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester, Plymouth and many other key towns and cities throughout the UK.

(MB)