The Millennium Stadium will host Wales’ largest ever careers and skills exhibition over three days in September this year – announced First Minister Carwyn Jones at the home of Welsh sport today.

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The free to enter ‘skillscymru’ will be held at the Millennium Stadium from September 16-18, attracting more than 20,000 people of all ages, seeking new opportunities for the future.

The event with over 100 employers, colleges and training providers aims to inform visitors about existing and emerging career opportunities in Wales and particularly about the skills needed to work in fast-growing sectors such as the bio-sciences and the various creative industries.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to take part in a wide range of demonstrations and master classes in other fields including engineering, construction, retail, hospitality, cookery, sport and fitness.

Announcing the flagship event Mr Jones said: “The post-recession era will present us with major new opportunities and challenges, as new enterprises emerge.

“As a nation, we need to prepare for those opportunities or risk missing out. That means many people must be willing to train for occupations they might not even have considered, or even known about, before. That is how we will make a comeback and regain our competitiveness.”

He added: “Wales is leading the way in combating the recession by promoting the learning of new skills. skillscymru is an exciting event that leads the way and is a key strand in our strategy to offset a recessionary rise in unemployment, while helping fulfil the Assembly Government’s One Wales commitment to skills.

“When the recovery begins, Wales needs to be ready to hit the ground running so we can compete with the rest of the world. The best way to achieve this is to ensure our people have the skills, qualifications and training employers and the economy need.

“skillscymru will help people fight back against the downturn and do something positive to boost their confidence and employment prospects in 2010 and beyond – ensuring Wales remains one of the best countries in the world in which to live and do business.”

skillscymru is part of a major push by the Welsh Assembly Government, with the help of European Social Funding (ESF), to aid the country’s recovery from the economic downturn by preparing the population for a new higher-skilled era.

David Rosser, Director of the CBI in Wales, who is backing skillscymru, said: “Across Wales companies have been fighting for survival and we’re working with the Welsh Assembly Government to help industry cope with extremely difficult market conditions.

“While there is no magic wand solution to these problems, skillscymru is an important positive step to tackling the issues for both employers and employees and I’d encourage people to attend and support the event.”
To sponsor and/or book a stand space or visit skillscymru please visit the skillscymru website at www.skillscymru.co.uk or www.sgiliaucymru.co.uk