Cardiff's largest skills, career & apprenticeship event

Q: How can I get there by car or bus?

By car The postcode is CF10 2EQ. Parking is not available on-site for visitors. Please be aware of the parking charges at the nearby car parks before you visit if you are coming by car* . The two closest car parks to the arena are: Rapports NCP (Capacity: 128/disabled spaces: 2) Pay on the day – 1 hour – £4.75 1-2 hours £9.50 2-3 hours £14.25 St. David’s (Capacity: 2568/disabled spaces: 120) 1 hour – £2 2 hours – £3 3 hours – £4 (*subject to change by the venue) By rail Cardiff Central Station and Cardiff Queen Street Station are around a 10 minute walk from the arena. By bus Utilita Arena is located in the centre of Cardiff. The following buses stop at Hayes Bridge Road next to John Lewis, which is around a five-minute walk from the venue: 11, 28, 28A and 28B, 89A and 89B.

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About
SkillsCymru

Join us at SkillsCymru at The Utilita Arena Cardiff on 10 October, 9:30am – 2.30pm 2023 and a twilight session 4pm – 6pm, and 11 October 2023, 9:30am – 2:30pm.

At SkillsCymru, school leavers will have the chance to meet local and national employers and high-quality education providers face-to-face to gain expert career advice and plan their careers. This year, we will be welcoming 5,000 young people and 40 exhibitors to SkillsCymru, making it the largest in-person free careers, training and apprenticeship event in South Wales.

SkillsCymru provides young people with a chance to explore the exciting education courses available to them with some of Wales’ most popular colleges and universities and browse a wide selection of apprenticeship opportunities and training courses for the most in-demand jobs in Wales. SkillsCymru gives students a rare chance to benefit from direct contact with active employers and course providers, giving them their best chance at choosing a course or role that is right for them.

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Exhibitors come from many different colleges, universities, and industries to give our visitors a wide variety of opportunities to choose from. SkillsCymru is a fantastic way for young people to explore different courses and industries and learn about all the routes to pursuing each career path. Students who plan on pursuing a work-related learning course will have the chance to browse and apply for apprenticeships, training schemes and graduate jobs in Cardiff and wider regions across Wales on the live vacancies board within the venue. There are more course options and routes into work than ever before, including increasingly popular degree apprenticeships and other new qualifications which combine study and work experience.

There will be stands offering employability and career advice for students on CV writing, job hunting and preparing for interviews. There will also be fun, hands-on activities available to take part in at exhibitor stands for students to gain insight into the skills they will learn and develop in job roles.

We welcome large groups and there is no limit to the number of students that can attend SkillsCymru from one school. The event will run for two days only on 10 and 11 October 2023 at The Cardiff International Arena and spaces fill up very quickly, so we encourage visitors to register to attend as soon as possible. We will also provide toolkits to help you promote your attendance via text messages, email and social media and are able to offer a travel bursary to a limited number of schools. Please contact us as soon as possible if you would like to request a travel bursary payment.

Optimus Education is part of Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s largest charities. Shaw Trust is a social purpose organisation committed to challenging inequality and breaking down barriers. SkillsCymru brings opportunities to young people of all abilities and our commitment to contributing toward diversity and inclusion in the workplace means that we want to make rewarding, meaningful training and employment opportunities accessible to everyone. If you would like to discuss your accessibility requirements with our team, please email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to assist.

‘I gained a lot of insight into the pathways that I want to take after sixth form. I now have a clearer idea as to what I will be doing. Thank you to SkillsCymru for providing this event for free. Many students, like myself, have very much benefitted from the experience.’

Young person

‘The event was brilliant, really fun! There are all the stalls we could possibly want, and it’s really educational.’

Young person

‘It’s an opportunity to ask open questions from everyone and hear the experiences of different people like myself, who are still new in the sector but can give some good advice on where they need to go.’

Apprentice and Exhibitor, SkillsCymru

SkillsEvents
Testimonials

SkillsCymru
FAQ's

SkillsCymru at The Utilita Arena Cardiff, Cardiff
cardiffinternationalarena.co.uk

What facilities will be available at the event?

Toilets
Accessible toilets

Will there be any cafes or restaurants open in the arena?

There is a cafe on-site. Please contact us if you require a menu.

Is the event accessible for wheelchair users?

The exhibition hall at the Utilita Arena Cardiff is on ground level and has wide, automatic doors at both entrances and exits.

How can I get there by car or bus?

By car
The postcode is CF10 2EQ. Parking is not available on-site for visitors. Please be aware of the parking charges at the nearby car parks before you visit if you are coming by car*. The two closest car parks to the arena are:
Rapports NCP (Capacity: 128/disabled spaces: 2)
Pay on the day –
1 hour – £4.75
1-2 hours £9.50
2-3 hours £14.25

St. David’s (Capacity: 2568/disabled spaces: 120)
1 hour – £2
2 hours – £3
3 hours – £4
(*subject to change by the venue)

By rail
Cardiff Central Station and Cardiff Queen Street Station are around a 10 minute walk from the arena.

By bus
Utilita Arena is located in the centre of Cardiff. The following buses stop at Hayes Bridge Road next to John Lewis, which is around a five-minute walk from the venue: 11, 28, 28A and 28B, 89A and 89B.

How do I request assistance for my visit?

We are happy to provide hidden disability badges, interpreters, and book time in a prayer room or quiet room. Assistance dogs are welcome but must be clearly identifiable and facilities for dogs available on request. Please note that all accessibility requests must be made in advance of your visit so we can make arrangements for you. If you have any requirements not listed here, please contact us at [email protected] to ask for assistance.

SkillsCymru
Exhibit

Join us at SkillsCymru at The Utilita Arena Cardiff on 10 October, 9:30am – 2:30pm 2023 and a twilight session 4pm – 6pm, and 11 October 2023, 9:30am – 2:30pm.

SkillsCymru, Wales’ largest career, education and training event of the year will be coming to The Cardiff International Arena on 10 and 11 October 2023. SkillsCymru attracts thousands of young people each year between the ages of 14-19, along with career leaders and other key influencers, to allow them to explore exciting courses and career pathways. All industries, skills and training providers, colleges and universities are all welcome to exhibit and share the opportunities they have to offer.

The unique benefit for exhibitors at SkillsCymru is the ability to have important face-to-face conversations with a sizeable portion of your target market. SkillsCymru gives you the chance to discuss all the career paths available within your industry and promote upcoming college and university open events.

Email us about exhibiting at SkillsCymru.

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SkillsCymru
Exhibit

The popularity of apprenticeships has been consistently growing over recent years and the continued trend toward work-related learning courses shows us that companies that hire apprentices are in huge demand. We are keen to feature local and national employers from many different industries to enable us to offer a varied selection of apprenticeships and courses to our visitors. Interactive activities, such as brick-laying workshops, cooking classes and hair and beauty demonstrations, create a lasting impression and demonstrate the skills and knowledge that apprentices will develop in their roles. There will also be a live opportunities board within The Cardiff International Arena to advertise current vacancies and courses.

‘It’s fantastic because it gives young people the opportunity to look at different areas of work and to think about what career path they want to choose.’ – Police, SkillsCymru

Choosing a career is one of the biggest decisions that we make and by introducing young people to experienced professionals and apprentices who are enthusiastic about what they do, we are helping them to make a more informed choice.

Optimus Education is part of Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s largest charities. Shaw Trust is a social purpose organisation committed to challenging inequality and supporting people to find rewarding, fulfilling employment. Skills Events aim to help young people get the best start in their careers and support the future of UK industries.

‘I talk about construction, now young people are aware of every career available within construction, so if you apply that to every sector here today, there’s a massive benefit here for young people.’ – Exhibitor, SkillsCymru

If you would like to find out more about exhibiting at SkillsCymru on 10 and 11 October 2023 at The Utilita Arena Cardiff, please fill out the short form on our contact us page and we will be in touch. Spaces fill up quickly, so we advise that you make your booking as soon as possible.