92% of employers found suitable candidates for their job vacancies at Reading Job Fest

2nd October 2024

The recent Reading Job Fest attracted over 1000 job seekers of all ages to Reading Town Hall in late September, with employers exhibiting delighted by the calibre of the candidates attending.  

Those attending were either unemployed, under-employed or seeking new job opportunities and a fresh start. 92% of the employers attending reported meeting suitable candidates for their job vacancies, with some employers reporting over 50 potential candidates.

The second Reading Job Fest of 2024 was delivered by DWP in partnership with REDA (Reading’s Economy and Destination Agency). 39 local businesses attended, including well-known names such as Thames Water, AWE, P&G, The Range, Card Factory, University of Reading and Reading Borough Council. In addition, seven local providers including Smartworks, Adviza/NCS, Brighter Futures for Children and New Directions, were there to provide advice, guidance and employment support.

Sue Brackley, Economic Development Manager at REDA, said: “This was a brilliant event for employers and job seekers alike. REDA has been organising and funding Job Fests with DWP since 2011, and we’re proud of our track record in bringing the biggest and best attended employment event to our town, matching the recruitment requirements of local businesses with Reading’s diverse workforce. One of the key strengths of the Job Fest is how it brings so many local partners together and that’s something we’ll want to keep doing for many years to come.” 

DWP’s Labour Market Recruitment team who worked on organising the event said: 
“We have received very positive feedback from our Work Coaches and jobseekers. Those who attended were very impressed with not only the range of employers but the quality of the roles they were each offering. Even those who usually don’t like job fairs enjoyed this one and both exhibitors and jobseekers felt this one was a success.”

All employers attending said they would recommend the event to other employers.  Reading Job Fest  took place at Reading Town Hall on 24 September. The next Reading Job Fest will be Spring 2025.