THE future is a lot clearer for many Brentwood teenagers after they spent the afternoon touring a careers fair.
About 4,500 young people aged 13 to 18 visited the fourth annual Brentwood Education and Careers Fair, and yet again, it has been hailed a big success.
Representatives from 80 companies, colleges and training providers set up stalls in the main hall of the Brentwood Centre in Doddinghurst Road and were kept busy for six hours answering questions and providing advice to young people.
For the first time, five secondary schools in the borough – Shenfield High, Brentwood County High, St Martin's, Anglo European and Brentwood Ursuline Convent High, plus the Endeavour School – provided buses which relayed students back and forth.
More students visited with their parents after school hours.
Amassing piles of brochures and leaflets between them were three friends from St Martin's School in Hanging Hill Lane, Hutton.
Georgia Staples, 14, said: "It's good here.
"There's lots of information available from the stalls.
"I'm interested in going into film and make-up so want to find out more about courses I could take."
Mary Allen, 13, said: "I'm interested in design and architecture, that sort of thing, and I've been able to find out a bit more today.
"It's been really worthwhile coming here."
Thirteen-year-old Rebecca Broadley added: "I love netball, so I am looking at doing something with sport and have found out today how it is important I get good grades in science, particularly biology.
"It's been really helpful."
Heading straight for the very popular Essex Police stand was Nikkita Barber, 15, from Shenfield High School.
She said: "I want to be a policewoman, so this is the ideal place for me to find out more.
"I want to help people, stop crimes and make the world a better place."
PCSO Peter Kearney was pleased to give Nikkita advice.
He said: "We've had an excellent response today.
"The youngsters want to try on the helmets and have a go at the scanner but they are also asking lots of questions and taking the leaflets."
Another popular stall belonged to the East of England Ambulance Service and came complete with a dummy showing human organs which students were called on to identify.
Paramedic Kevin Hudson said: "Many of the students are not sure of the role of a paramedic so it's great we get the chance to explain what we do.
"Lots of youngsters are keen to learn CPR, which is fantastic, and we have had quite a few say they want to be doctors."
Saowani Wannasiri, 17, from the Anglo European School in Willow Green, in Ingatestone was one of more than 80 student ambassadors who helped ensure the event ran smoothly by guiding visitors, providing refreshments for stall holders and undertaking media relations.
She enjoyed having a go swinging a club at the Howard Golf design stand, which informed students about the various careers available in the sport.
"I've never tried it before – it was fun," she said.
"As well as helping out, I've had the chance to tour the fair and find out more about management courses I'm interested in."
Tom Spears, 14, and Percy Jennings, 13, who both go to the Anglo European, were interested in finding out more about what BT had to offer.
Tom said: "I think this fair is a really good opportunity to get information on jobs and apprenticeships.
"I am looking for anything to do with sport or business."
Percy added: "I've found out a lot more about what BT has to offer – their apprenticeship looks good.
"I also liked TheLightBulb Ltd, which has lots of things you can study.
"You start from scratch and they teach you everything you need to know."
In the morning, 250 Year 6 pupils from eight different primary schools took part in workshops run by employers, which helped them understand the range of careers available and skills they will need to get a job.
Beverley Swann, project manager for the Brentwood Learning Partnership, which organised the fair, said: "It has been a very successful day, and despite the difficult economic climate we were delighted to have reached our full capacity of 80 stands, which provided a wide range of different advice and information for our students."
