THE FRANKLEY Skills Show and Jobs Fair which took place at the end of September at the Hollymoor Centre has been hailed a great success after hundreds of people attended.
The free event was organised by Coun Simon Morrall in conjunction with Northfield MP Gary Sambrook and Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street.
As well as a variety of jobs, a wide range of training providers attended, including South and City Collage, The British Army, West Midlands Police, Fortum, Skills UK, Nova Training, Trident Reach and the Scouts.
Coun Morrall said: “I was unable to do a show last year due to Covid, so I wasn’t going to waste the chance to put one on this year.
“To once again see the steady flow of people arrive to my second Skills Show was magical and it made all the hard work worth it.
“We had people arrive from as far as Selly Oak, Yardley and one lady even came from Wombourne.
“I was blown away with the response and and it just proves what I’ve been saying at City Council for years, there are people in this city with ambition and talent that we simply aren’t tapping into and we urgently need to re think our marketing strategy when it comes to promoting the wide range of opportunities we have in our great second city.
“Local skills shows are just one way to do this.”
Mr Street, who was also present for the first Frankley Skills Show in 2019, added: “It’s brilliant to see Coun Morrall once again put this on event for his community and what we have seen today is so many opportunities for residents locally.
“What I think was the best was the jobs wall, because it’s this whole point as we come out of the pandemic, that the jobs are there but its just about matching those people who are looking for work up with those opportunities.
“I’d say to residents, I know it’s been tough and we’ve seen some really difficult times at the moment, but the opportunities are out there.
“So please if you couldn’t get along today, do look out for those opportunities that are out there on your doorstep.”
Mr Sambrook thanked Coun Morrall for hosting the event, adding: “It’s amazing to be here today and see all them job notices on the wall, of just how many opportunities there are out there for people to grab and to take hold of.
“It will help people have the security of a pay packet and going into work – thanks to Simon for making this happen today, making a real difference to his community in Frankley Great Park.”
Coun Morrall added: “10 years ago I lost everything and had to walk into this Job Centre.
“I still remember how soul destroying that felt, to be passed from pillar to post on multiple benefits lines and feel like nothing but a number in a machine!
“Last week I walked into that same job centre and witnessed my Skill Show leaflets on every adviser table, my posters on every wall and my name, alongside the former CEO of John Lewis and now WM Mayor Andy Street.
“Everyone has potential to do great things, this is why I get out of bed in the morning, it’s why I got into politics and it’s why I work so hard all year round – because I don’t want you to be a number in a machine.”
Coun Morrall is already planning another and much bigger Skills Show and Jobs Fair in the future.
