Chelmsford's Skills Fest welcomes over 1500 local students

Pupils from nine local secondary schools attended a festival-inspired careers event on Thursday 26 June, to help them explore the many job options open to them right here in Chelmsford and Essex.  

Returning for its biggest year yet, Skills Fest is organised by Chelmsford City Council to give young people aged 12-13 a fun, innovative taste of the world of work.

Hosted at ARU Writtle campus, students from Beaulieu Park School, The Boswells School, Chelmer Valley High School, Great Baddow High School, Hylands School, Moulsham High School, Sandon School, St John Payne Catholic School and William de Ferrers School attended the festival. 

During the event, students were introduced to a wide range of industries and job roles, helping them make informed decisions about their education and careers paths. With support from local employers and organisations, the festival creates an exciting bridge between classroom learning and the workplace. 

From pop-up water testing labs to exploring tunnel building with VR headsets, Skills Fest offered students the chance to take part in practical activities that reflect real job roles to see what sparks their interest. 

More than 75 local businesses and organisations, including cutting-edge industries, expert trades and essential local services gave up their time for free to introduce local students to jobs they might never have considered or even realised existed.  

Throughout the day, pupils were encouraged to get involved and try something new. The format allowed students to develop a clearer understanding of different industries, while building their confidence and curiosity in a relaxed, engaging environment. 

Speaking about the event, Nick Eveleigh, Chief Executive of Chelmsford City Council, said: 

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“We’ve created an event that feels more like a festival than a traditional careers day – it’s relaxed, fun and completely different from a classroom setting which was an intentional decision. When students get to roll up their sleeves and try things for themselves, they engage in a completely different way.

“It’s no longer just information being handed to them; they’re experiencing it. You can’t always imagine yourself in a role until you’ve had a go – and this event gives young people that chance. It’s about opening doors and letting them see their potential in action.”

Nick Eveleigh, Chelmsford City Council Chief Executive

Skills Fest took place in the impressive grounds at ARU Writtle campus with marquees, food trucks and music helping to provide a real festival feel.  Philip Grant, Principal of Writtle College, part of ARU Writtle, said:  

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“This event is a great opportunity to welcome the community onto our campus and give young people a flavour of the skills and employment opportunities that exist locally. It demonstrates the strength of our partnerships, and we’re pleased to be working closely with Chelmsford City Council."

 “We’re also proud to be showcasing the breadth of ARU Writtle's work through our exhibits and the support of our dedicated staff and volunteers.”

Philip Grant, Principal of Writtle College, ARU Writtle

To help students navigate around the site, the event was divided into six zones, each designed to showcase a specific job sector or industry.  

Finding out more about the health and social care sector, examples of activities in this zone included spotting germs with UV lights with ACL Essex County Council, meeting staff from Spring Lodge Veterinary Group and testing fitness levels with ARU Health & Nursing. 

The festival’s science-led zone,  activities for pupils included being able to test their accuracy with real lab pipettes with Battelle UK Ltd, experiencing a 3D architectural design in VR with Scene Architects Ltd and being a radio presenter with Chelmsford Community Radio.  

From learning CPR with Riverside Leisure Centre, taking a selfie with the Barclays Premier League trophy, testing their legal knowledge with Backhouse Solicitors and learning how we could grow food on the moon with ARU Writtle Horticulture and Agriculture, these we just some of were unexpected skills be learnt in the Enlightening Zone. 

The place to put their creativity to the test, students got to explore animation with Chelmsford College, master napkin folding with Hylands Estate, try their hand at video editing with The Offshoot Foundation and go behind the scenes with technical challenges from Chelmsford Theatre. 

Concentrating on construction, this tent included activities like trying the basics of bricklaying with Rose Builders, exploring how buildings are run with Mitie, building circuits with Houghton and Son and searching for items in a digital building with Morgan Sindall Construction.  

Exploring careers in the great outdoors, students could chat to exhibitors including the Army, Essex Police, the Parks and Green Spaces team from Chelmsford City Council and meet search and rescue dogs Bailey and Fizz who came along with their handlers from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. 

The festival plays an important role in connecting students with local employers, making it a valuable chance to inspire the future workforce. 

Skills Fest was designed specifically to engage with Year 8 pupils, to encourage them to think about what job they might like in the future and consider what qualifications they may need. When students reach Year 9, they must make important decisions about which subjects to study at GSCE level.  

By supporting Skills Fest, local employers are helping students make informed choices and investing in the development of local skills and ambition which will benefit the district in the long term.  

Councillor Simon Goldman, Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Property said: 

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“At this stage in their lives, many young people simply don’t know what careers are out there or what skills employers are looking for. Skills Fest connects their learning to real-life opportunities and helps them make more informed choices about GCSE options, further education and training.

"Chelmsford is a growing, ambitious place with fantastic employers and thriving industries, and we need to make sure we have a local workforce with the right skills to support that growth.

"By bringing schools and employers together, we’re helping to build a talent pipeline that supports our local economy and ensures our young people are ready to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.”

Cllr Simon Goldman, Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Property

Skills Fest was made possible by sponsorship from Essex County Council, Morgan Sindall Construction and North Essex Economic Board and delivered in partnership with Chelmsford City Council, ARU Writtle and Essex Agricultural Society.