Blog
New look Tauranga Careers Expo encourages young people to design their future
1 September 2017
'Design Your Future' was the key message at the Canvas Tauranga Careers Expo, which took place at ASB Baypark Arena on Friday, August 11 to Saturday, August 12. The event gave students and other job seekers the opportunity to get up close and personal with a range of organisations from across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region.
Representatives from a wide range of industries, including businesses, tertiary institutes and community organisations, were on hand to help students understand the wide range of job opportunities available to them. The event is the only one of its kind to provide students with the chance to speak one-on-one with local representatives from both businesses and tertiary institutions.
Many businesses offered the opportunity to get hands on, with: Edge Radio giving students the chance to record a radio intro; Page Macrae showcasing their larger than life tools and equipment which is normally kept at arms length; and House of Science letting students loose on their remote controlled robots.
A key focus was on innovation, with businesses such as Staples VR showcasing the jobs of the future with their virtual reality headsets or New Zealand Kiwi Fruit Growers exhibiting the drones they use as part of their everyday work.
The Canvas Tauranga Careers Expo was a new take on the old Western Bay at Work event. The name ‘Canvas’ encourages students to treat their future like a blank canvas, exploring the multitude of opportunities available to them.
A key feature of this year’s event was the ‘I Can Be…' inspiration stage. Through bi-hourly talks, speakers gave a first-hand account of what skills are required in their field as well as tips for aspiring employees to get their foot in the door. Speakers included Anton Steel, owner of Bay of Plenty Film and Stacey Mareroa, a top Maori commercial lawyer.
The event was sponsored by Priority One and the Rotary Club of Tauranga. Sue Boyne of the Rotary Club of Tauranga said “Canvas Careers Expo is committed to seeking out new opportunities and ideas. The working environment is changing rapidly so we need to make sure we are ready to provide relevant and interesting options. This event offers our future workforce the opportunity to explore their options and step into exciting careers.”
Next year's event is sure to be a succes, if you are interested in applying to be an exhibitor for our 2018 event please contact Sue Boyne.
