Young people who have been through employability courses and other life-skills initiatives through Aspens will play host to local employers at the event, held in Tonbridge’s Angel Centre on July 22.
Unlike a traditional job fair, where employers lay out their own stand, and it is jobseekers who move between the stalls, the Aspens Reverse Job Fair features stalls hosted by the job skills students, and it is the employers and recruiters who visit them, explained the charity.
There will be stalls representing industries including hospitality, retail, IT, horticulture and animal care, allowing employers to target the students who are interested in a particular sector.
“They will be telling our attendees about the skills and experience they have gained through our employability courses and initiatives, and why they would make excellent employees for local businesses,” said the charity.
The fair’s organiser, Megan Hollamby, Aspens’ employability lead, explained: “The primary purpose of this event is to get the people we support into meaningful employment. The percentage of people on the autism spectrum or with a learning disability who are in paid employment is significantly lower than the national figure for all adults in paid employment.
“I want to close the gap and support people to achieve their aspirations, face less discrimination and not only promote inclusivity, but really show what a fantastic asset these individuals would be to an employer,”
she said. “We are looking for employers who want to make a difference to people in their local community by giving individuals the opportunity to thrive and be an asset to their business.”
One Aspens graduate is Katie, 27, from Tunbridge Wells, who is neurodivergent and describes herself as being autistic. She started paid employment at Aspens’ Bluebell Café in Pembury since completing the charity’s employment initiatives two years ago.
She said: “Working at the café is amazing, it gives me a chance to meet the public. I just love it. It’s changed my life to be paid every month – I can save up for things that I want and buy them. People like me should have the opportunity to have a job and get paid.”
Aspens runs the City and Guilds Skills for Working Life qualification, which takes approximately a year, and which allows students to specialise in business areas they are interested in, for example horticulture and hospitality. The charity also runs its own employment initiatives to help those with disabilities, complex needs and autism to find paid work.
The Reverse Job Fair will be held on Friday, July 22 at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge. Employers interested in participating in the fair can email Megan.Hollamby@aspens.org.uk
