Letterkenny Jobs Fair - Event Report
Job Fair
EURES Cross- border Partnership, Department of Social Protection & Department for Communities jointly held a Jobs Fair on 30th March 2017 in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
Advance Planning
Planning meetings were held on 2nd and 22nd March 2017.
Publicity
The event was publicised through a variety of advertising methods; local newspapers, social media, including the Cross-border Website and the use of posters, flyers and banners. Additionally, approximately 4,400 letters were issued to jobseekers on the Live Register across the region followed by text messages. A Pre-publicity Event took place on 10th March with former Dragons Den star Ramona Nicholas endorsing the Jobs Fair seeing it as an opportunity for people to learn about what’s on offer and available on both sides of the border.
Jobs Wall
Another feature of the day consisted of a Jobs Wall which displayed all vacancies on offer at the Jobs Fair and also vacancies of those employers who could not personally attend on the day. This Jobs Wall proved very popular with visitors on the day.
Attendees
The event was very well attended and consisted of 44 stands including EURES Cross-border Partnership, DSP and a host of 26 local employers, 11 Training Providers and 7 Support Group Providers. A total of 249 job vacancies were on offer at the Jobs Fair.
Employers:
Foyle Food Group Donegal, Home Instead Senior Care, Zues Industrial Products, Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Pramerica Systems Ireland, Solis Lough Eske, McElhinneys, Rathmullan House, Oakfield Park, The Dealer ‘Free Ads’ Paper, FM Services Group, Great Southern Hotel Sligo, Farm Relief, Donegal Rapeseed Company, Gallagher’s Bakery, Pello Hair Colour Design, ER&M, Sculpt Cosmetics, Arnolds Hotel, Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Resort, Errigal Contracts, Clanree Hotel & McGettigan’s Hotel, Brindley Healthcare, Almac Group, Craft Training Ltd., KFC Herbert Group,
Training Providers:
IT Sligo, St. Angela’s College, Tech Northwest Skillnet, Safetech Consulting & Training, Sligo College of Further Education, South West College, Trinity College Dublin, Donegal ETB Apprenticeships Services, Donaghy Safety Training, Sligo College of Further Education, NWRC
Support Group Providers:
Donegal Youth Service DLDC, National Learning Network, People 1st, Citizens Information Services, Advocates for Personal Potential (APP) Training Services
Types of Jobs on Offer
Jobs on offer at the event included: General/Production Operatives, Caregivers, F & B, Hair Stylists, Chefs, Trainee Manager/Duty Manager (Hospitality), Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Teachers, Bricklayers, Joiners, Train Drivers, Agriculture Workers, Hair Tutors, Food Production Researchers
Footfall
According to footfall records, taken from Registration figures, there were 1383 visitors to the Jobs Fair over the course of the day.
Mentoring Sessions by Career Guidance Mentors
Over 50 individual 20 minutes mentoring sessions took place throughout the day by Career Guidance Mentors, giving advice on CV presentation and interview skills.
Presentations:
A number of presentations took place over the course of the day as follows:
- Your First EURES Job - Barry Conry
- CV & Interview Skills – Denise Ni Dhuibhir
- Tourism & Hospitality Industry – Michael McBride
- Third Level Education – Brian McGonagle
STATISTICS TAKEN FROM EVALUATION FORMS FROM CLIENTS
STATISTICS TAKEN FROM EVALUATION FORMS FROM EXHIBITORS
FOLLOW-UP WITH EMPLOYERS FOLLOWING THE EVENT
Companies who hired as direct result of attending the Jobs Fair
- 3 Companies
- 1 Company (1 person referred through Employment Response met at Jobs Fair) and may hire 2 further Staff Members not through Employment Response
Companies who did not hire as direct result of attending the Jobs Fair
- 5 Companies
Companies who may hire in the future as direct result of Jobs Fair
- 1 company – recruitment is not until September
- 1 company – 8 candidates through to 2nd round of interviews
- 1 company – may recruit 3 candidates when their course finished in Sept
- 1 company – recruiting for positions not yet open
- 1 company – will be contacting 6 candidates re Traineeships
- 2 companies – recruitment done at National Level
- Total of companies contacted – 30
- Total of companies replied - 16
Feedback
Based on an initial assessment of the employer feedback forms and also talking to employers on the day, there was very positive feedback with regard to the event fulfilling their expectations. They were also extremely pleased with the calibre of potential employees they met.
Other Comments
Dympna Boyle, EURES Cross Border Coordinator, said “The EURES IE/NI Cross Border Partnership was very happy to host this event with the Department of Social Protection and the Department for Communities (NI) which we hope will benefit both employers and jobseekers in this cross border region. It is important for the people living here in the Border region to have this kind of event in their locality highlighting the opportunities for employment and to help them with any queries on cross border employment. It is equally important for employers to be able to access the larger cross border labour market.”
DSP Regional Manager Kieran O’Dwyer, said “it was a great opportunity for people to meet with employers from the cross border region and further afield who are currently recruiting. The Department of Social Protection is delighted to be involved in this Fair which offers real opportunities to those seeking employment. Being in the heart of the community this Jobs Fair maximises the benefits for the cross border region and gives jobseekers a chance to see the recruitment opportunities available to them.”
Declan Doherty, EURES/Employer Engagement Manager for Donegal, said: “This year there was a special focus on Jobs and Employers relating to the Tourism and Hospitality sector. This approach is based on feedback from previous jobs fairs and the increase in demand we are experiencing in tourism as a result of the popularity of the Wild Atlantic Way. The Jobs Fair was a great opportunity for adults interested in returning to work or education, and also provided an opportunity for job seekers to avail of the careers mentoring available by experts in their field.
Special Thanks
This event would not have been possible without the wholehearted commitment from the local DSP staff, DFC staff and the staff at the Mount Errigal Hotel.
Back
