Finance Fest - A Jobs Fair with a Twist

On Saturday 13th October we held the first Finance Fest at ACL Brentwood. The Finance Fest was a dedicated jobs fair with a twist! There was something for everyone, from opportunities for school leavers to career changers and senior vacancies, as well as activities and samba drumming lessons for children to keep them entertained whilst the adults visited the exhibition stands. We invited training providers, industry bodies and employers from across Essex to showcase their roles and routes into the Financial & Related Services sector. Exhibitors included Shawbrook Bank, Rickard Luckin, HSBC UK, DST, RSM, Objective People and First Data, as well as London Market Group, Jobcentre Plus, Anglia Ruskin University, BPP, ACL, Bragfolder and the Essex Apprenticeship Hub.

The Finance Fest was organised in direct response to raise awareness of the opportunities within the Financial & Related Services sector in Essex. There is a perception that people need to commute into the City to secure senior positions, this is incorrect! Essex is home to a thriving financial sector, comprising of local and international companies.

The Finance Fest was part of a wider campaign. Adverts were on all commuter trains through Essex asking people what they would do with the time they saved from commuting on trains into London everyday. This was supplemented with a social media and local press campaign. 

We had over 300 people attend on the day, from school leavers to career changers and parents wanting to re-enter the workforce. Attendees came from across Essex, from Grays to Loughton. To help entertain the children whilst the adults visited the stands, we had music sessions and samba drum lessons as well as an onsite café providing homemade lunches and cakes. Thank you for everyone who came to the event and to those who hosted a stand!