WorldSkills UK – The Skills Show
From 2012-2014 there is a unique opportunity to publicise ESF in England through active participation in a major new Skills Funding Agency led national skills event (the WorldSkills UK –The Skills Show).
The first event will take place between 15-17 November at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre. The initiative aims to build on the success of the similarly structured WorldSkills London 2011 event, attended by a UK and International audience of over 200,000 people.
In 2012, it is anticipated that the event will attract up to 100,000 people. Through an ESF Technical Assistance proposal (awaiting consideration/approval), there are plans to promote the activities and achievements of the 2007-2013 England ESF programme to a wide audience attending the event. These are expected to include many ESF target groups, with a particular focus on young people including those not currently in education, employment or training.
The main strands of ESF publicity activity within the proposal include:
- 30 ESF providers exhibiting at each of the annual Skills Shows, plus a joint ESF Managing Authority/ESF-Works exhibition stand
- two ESF seminars, one of which will include the ESF Mainstreaming Leader Awards 2012 Awards ceremony (see more details below)
- references to the ESF programme within the event’s marketing materials.
In addition, the proposal includes promotion of ESF and involvement of ESF providers at around 30 local Have a Go events across the country. These will run up to March 2013. More details will follow shortly.
ESF seminars
On Thursday 15 November two seminars are planned, that will focus on ESF funded projects. Each seminar will be able to accommodate up to 75 people. They will focus on:
- ESF support for young people including those who are NEET.
- good practice within the cross cutting themes of sustainable development and gender equality and equal opportunities - including the presentation of the five 2012 national ESF mainstreaming awards and input from the winners.
More information about The Skills Show is available at WorldSkills UK – The Skills Show and The Skills Show Update produced by the Skills Funding Agency.
If you are potentially interested in the ESF seminars more information is available from Stella Pearce