TRAFFORD Council is organising a careers fair to be held at Hotel Football, Old Trafford, on November 29 between 2pm and 7pm.

Around 40 local employers and training providers will be in attendance to offer a wide variety of exciting career, training and apprenticeship opportunities. The event is being run in partnership with Trafford Connexions and Trafford College.

With a specific focus on opportunities for young people to secure higher level and advanced apprenticeships, around 7000 Year 11 and 13 students are currently being invited to the event with parents also being encouraged to come along and find out more about the local opportunities available.

Supporter of the event, former Manchester United captain and co-owner of host Hotel Football, Gary Neville, said: "I am delighted to support the Trafford Careers Fair and provide a venue for young people to find out more about the fantastic career options they have available with local employers. Hotel Football is committed to supporting young people into work and helping them reach their potential.”

Trafford Council leader, Cllr Sean Anstee, who is the Greater Manchester Combined Authority lead on skills and employment, said: "The council and its partners are committed to working together to provide high quality work, training and mentoring opportunities for local young people. Through the Trafford Pledge 961 people have already been taken on or supported by one of the 52 local businesses that have signed up to the Pledge.

“While locally we have the highest employment and productivity rates in Greater Manchester, some of the country's best educational results and a high skill base we are not being complacent and need to ensure more is done to support young people as they move into the work environment.

“I would encourage everyone invited to this latest careers fair to seize the opportunity it provides to speak to local employers and college staff about the many opportunities they offer.

"We all recognise that this significant investment and belief in our local young people will ensure Trafford remains at the forefront of the region's economic prosperity."

Liz Gorb, director of apprenticeships at Manchester Metropolitan University, a leading provider of degree apprenticeships, commented: “This event is a great way for young people to find out more about the career options open to them, such as the degree apprenticeships at Manchester Met. Degree apprenticeship programmes give students the chance to gain valuable workplace experience, earn a wage and still complete a full honours degree, so some students will no longer need to choose between getting a job and going to university.”

There is still time for employers or training providers to book a table at the event, via www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/careers-fair-2016-tickets-28186107406