The Skills Minister is set to attend Generation Hitchin and help kickstart careers for young people by showcasing the incredible opportunities on their doorstep.

Aimed at 15 to 18-year-olds in Hitchin and the surrounding area, the careers and employment-focused event is taking place at The Priory, Hitchin, on Thursday, 21 October from 3.30pm to 7pm. Already over 250 people have registered to attend with spaces filling fast.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Skills) Alex Burghart will be on hand to demonstrate Government support for the latest ‘Gen X’ careers event delivered by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Students, parents and carers will meet world-class employers championing careers in engineering, construction, retail, science, hospitality, healthcare, professional services, film and media and lots more.

Companies showcasing career, training and apprenticeship opportunities include retail giant Amazon.com, lifestyle store Oliver Bonas, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, MBDA, University of Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire District Council, John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance and Morgan Sindall Construction and others.

During the event attendees will be able to:

• Chat with local businesses
• Find out about work experience, apprenticeship and job opportunities
• Meet further and higher education providers
• Meet and speak with current apprentices and employees to gain an insight into their career paths
• Find out what do to next.

Generation Hitchin is led by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership along with The Careers and Enterprise Company, North Hertfordshire College, biz4biz and Amazing Apprenticeships.

Mark Bretton, Chair, Hertfordshire LEP and LEP Network, said: “Ensuring local skills reflect the needs of local economies is a key pillar of our future values vision which will ensure that communities and businesses genuinely feel the benefits of levelling up and local growth.

“We are looking forward to seeing the many opportunities that will arise by connecting businesses in high-growth sectors with the future workforce and enhancing the conversation on skills.”

Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chair, Skills Advisory Panel, Hertfordshire LEP, and founder biz4Biz, said: “We know our young people have been hit hard by the pandemic and that now more than ever it is crucial that we support them to make informed career decisions and connect to the fabulous training opportunities on our doorstep. For the first time in months, we can do this in person. I look forward to welcoming you to Generation Hitchin!”

Kit Davies, CEO and Principal of the Hart Learning Group at North Hertfordshire College (NHC), said: “NHC is excited to be a main sponsor at Generation Hitchin, showcasing our apprenticeship and professional programme offer. We are committed to working with young people to inform and inspire them about careers and highlight how businesses of all sizes can engage with emerging talent, and this event will provide even more opportunities for young people. As well as supporting the event we also have a large number of apprenticeship vacancies across a range of sectors that us and our employer partners are eager to fill.”

Matthew Durdy, Chief Executive Officer, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult commented: “The Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership is central to local growth of the cell and gene therapy industry in the area. We are looking forward to partnering with them for Generation Hitchin, meeting young talent and highlighting the exciting prospects and opportunities available here in the largest cell and gene therapy cluster outside the US.”

This event is the third in the highly successful ‘Generation X’ style series of careers events developed by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership with local employers and FE colleges. The first two, Generation Stevenage and Generation Watford, were delivered at the height of the lockdown to ensure that young people could make informed decisions about their future career choices.

Generation Hitchin is the first one in the series to be delivered in person and is being supported by Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, who will also be attending the event.

Bim Afolami said: “Following on from the hugely successful Generation Stevenage and Watford careers events, co-ordinated by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, I am delighted to help bring this careers fair to Hitchin. Generation Hitchin will connect young people to local employers to find out about the fantastic range of apprenticeships opportunities that are available within the county. I look forward to welcoming you.”

Registrations are now open via Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal, Hertfordshire LEP’s premier gateway for careers, training and apprenticeships opportunities: