THIS week Somerset County Cricket Club hosted the first ever jobs fair.

The event took place in Taunton on Tuesday, March 29, and welcomed almost 400 locals in search of jobs to speak with over 30 exhibitors and recruiters to help them settle into a new career.

Exhibitors at the event included Avon and Somerset Police, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and NHS Somerset.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Caroline Anderson from Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Amy Borthwick and Harry Jones from Avon & Somerset Constabulary

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Some of the team from Careers at Hinkley Point C

The National Career Service and Community Employment Hubs helped to support the event, which was organised primarily by Stuart Wright; director of the Somerset Jobs website.

He said: “I felt it was the right time to lay on an event as so many people are reviewing their career choices especially after covid for the last two years and with a number of redundancies happening.”

According to SomersetTrends, 9,500 working age residents were unemployed between July 2020 and June 2021, after the beginning of the global pandemic.

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Carina Bush and Lydia Thornton from Professional Apprenticeships

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Abbie Singer from Bridgwater & Taunton College​

The Somerset Jobs site helps Somerset residents to find local jobs, with popular locations listed as Bridgwater, Frome, Glastonbury, Hinkley, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, and Yeovil.

Written by Jamie Grover

Below are more photos from the event

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Kim Johnson from Obelisk

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Erin Goldsworthy from Cygnet Health Care

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News:
Donna Kershaw from Queen’s College