700 students and job seekers attended Croydon Careers Fair held at Mosaic East, Croydon, on Tuesday 5 November.

The event was founded by real estate investment manager Feldberg Capital, who were the primary funder. The Careers Fair forms part of Feldberg’s Environmental, Social and Governance strategy, which aims for the assets in which the company invests, manages and develops to leave a positive impact on the environment and the wider society now, and in the future.
Croydon Council and Croydon Works were also partners in the event, which was supported by the Mayor of London. The event was delivered by White Label.

The Careers Fair was aimed at job seekers – both those looking for their first job or a place on an apprenticeship programme – as well as those looking to make a career move.

The Fair comprised a day long programme of talks on career pathways, resilience and networking; workshops on CV writing and managing finances; and one-to-one sessions offering personalised career advice and interview practice.
Over 40 businesses from a range of sectors had exhibition stands at the event, enabling job seekers to hear at first-hand about the opportunities available and make valuable contacts.

Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry gave a keynote address at the event, highlighting Croydon’s entrepreneurial spirit, with 16,000 SMEs based in the borough. The Mayor also discussed the 12,000 public sector jobs in the borough in agencies such as the Home Office, HMRC, NHS and the Met Police, which are all based locally.

The Mayor continued: “I envision a Croydon where every resident, young or experienced, has the support and resources to pursue a career that inspires them and makes a difference.

“Today, as you connect with employers, attend workshops, and learn from industry experts, know that you are part of this vision. You are the future of Croydon and it is important we support you”.

Croydon based entrepreneur, start-up advisor and business consultant Koby Yogaretnam gave a keynote address. Koby told the audience that he had secured his first job at a careers fair at the age of 16.

In his speech, Koby highlighted the importance of resilience, advising the audience to embrace setbacks as learning opportunities. He also stressed the importance of motivation, especially in difficult times. Koby also focussed on the need for enthusiasm, which is contagious, and advised the audience to be lifelong learners, always being curious and asking questions. “Be bold, experiment, and don’t let fear hold you back from your dreams”, he added.

16% of attendees reported securing a job or work-related opportunity at the event itself. Over half the attendees surveyed after the event said that they had found the Fair very useful, with 74% of attendees reporting they would be following up with the companies who exhibited at the Fair, with 70% specifying this would be for future work placements.

Jon Cochrane, Director, Asset Management and Sustainability, Feldberg Capital, commented: “Job hunting can be daunting, especially for young people leaving education and looking for their first opportunity. We are delighted to have founded the Croydon Careers Fair and brought it back again this year. It’s an important community event which offers a wealth of practical advice in a supportive environment – all forming part of our commitment to ensure buildings we manage contribute to the local areas where they are located.”

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon, added: “It is my priority that people in Croydon have opportunities to learn, thrive and fulfil their potential, and are given the right support to access training and jobs. We are hugely grateful to all those who helped to deliver the Careers Fair. It was a productive and informative day and we wish all those who attended every success for the future.”

Chris Barker, Croydon Works, said: “Attendance at the event exceeded our expectations. There is no doubt that job seekers appreciate the opportunity to meet face to face with potential employers and it was great to see so many people making contacts and joining in the practical sessions.”