Event project management for Learning and Skills Councils

Learning & Skills Council Staffordshire
Second Opinion Marketing was approached to provide full project management services for a Skills Fair to be planned and organised in North Staffordshire. The Skills Fair concept was developed from a desire to encourage more young people to stay on in learning and raise the aspiration levels of young people in an area that traditionally has poor staying on rates. In a break away from the more traditional Careers Convention approach all exhibitors were encouraged to use hands on demonstrations and provide opportunities for visitors to try out their skills. This gave the whole event real buzz and made the Skills Fair accessible to youngsters who were looking for more practical opportunities.

Responsible for brainstorming and developing the concept with Staffordshire Learning and Skills Council and it’s providers Second Opinion also had full responsibility for inviting and liaising with provider exhibitors, briefing and managing the advertising agency that produced the event collaterals, briefing and managing the PR agency who promoted to event and running regular project meetings.

Sue Venables, Marketing Manager of Learning and Skills Council Staffordshire explained: “The event attracted 600 visitors and proved very popular with both visitors and the exhibitors themselves who felt it was a great way to meet young people and demonstrate the kind of skills that could be developed through their training programmes. The LSC is now considering when and how to run similar Skills Fairs around the county in the future.”