Edinburgh's largest skills, career & apprenticeship event

Q: How do I request assistance for my visit?

Email us at visitors@optimus-education.com . Please note all requests for support (BSL, SEND, interpreters etc.) must be made before of the event with as much notice as possible as we will need to make special arrangements. Assistance will not be on-site unless specifically requested/needed.

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About
SkillsScotland

Join us at SkillsScotland at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh on 2 November 2023 9:30am – 2:30pm.

At SkillsScotland, 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 2,100 young people to SkillsScotland from S4 – S6, making it the largest in-person free careers, training, and modern apprenticeship employment event in the Edinburgh and wider area.

SkillsScotland exhibitors come from many different colleges, universities, and industries to provide a varied selection of education and employment opportunities. Students will be able to access professional career advice from college and university representatives, experienced specialists, and current apprentices to help them learn about the different routes to pursuing each career path. Students who are interested in work-related learning courses will have the chance to browse and apply for graduate jobs, training schemes and modern apprenticeships in Edinburgh and wider Scottish regions on the live vacancies board within the venue. There will be stands offering general employability and career advice for students on CV writing, job hunting and preparing for interviews.

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There are more course options and routes into work than ever before, including increasingly popular graduate and degree apprenticeships and other new qualifications which combine study and work experience. SkillsScotland 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. There will also be fun, hands-on activities available to take part in at exhibitor stands for students to gain an 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 SkillsScotland from one school. The event will run for one day only on 2 November 2023 at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh 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. SkillsScotland 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.

‘The events are important because it builds a relationship between the world of work and pupils in school, which is vital for both sides.’

Group Leader, SkillsScotland

‘My son is really interested in architecture, but me reading up about it and talking to him about it isn’t the same as a passionate lecturer talking about it, which I think has had a huge impact on him already.’

Parent, SkillsScotland

‘I went to the NHS Scotland stand, I’m quite interested in doing medicine as a subject at University and I was talking to a junior doctor, it was very interesting, he told me a lot about it.’

Young person, SkillsScotland

SkillsEvents
Testimonials

SkillsScotland
FAQ's

Skills Scotland – The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh
royalhighlandcentre.co.uk

What facilities will be available at the event?

Toilets and accessible toilets
Baby changing facilities within the accessible toilets
ATMs
Free Wi-Fi

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

Yes.

Is the event accessible for wheelchair users?

Yes. The venue is on ground level.

How can I get there by car or bus?

There is car parking available at the Royal Highland Centre. Our postcode for your satnav is EH28 8NB.

Buses: Airlink 100, Skylink 200 and 300, 20, 63. All buses run regularly and drop-off close to the Royal Highland Centre.

How do I request assistance for my visit?

Email us at [email protected]. Please note all requests for support (BSL, SEND, interpreters etc.) must be made before of the event with as much notice as possible as we will need to make special arrangements. Assistance will not be on-site unless specifically requested/needed.

About
SkillsScotland

Join us at SkillsScotland at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh on 2 November 2023 9:30am – 2:30 pm.

SkillsScotland, Scotland’s largest career, education and training event of the year will be coming to The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh on 2 November 2023 9:30am – 2:30pm. The event attracts 2,100 young people each year from S4 – S6, along with teachers, career leaders and other key influencers, to allow them to explore exciting courses and career pathways by meeting exhibitors and taking part in activities. 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 SkillsScotland is the ability to have important face-to-face conversations with a sizeable portion of your target market. SkillsScotland 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 SkillsScotland.

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SkillsScotland
Exhibit

The popularity of apprenticeships has been consistently growing and the continued trend toward work-related learning courses shows us that companies that hire apprentices are in huge demand. We offer a highly varied selection of apprenticeships and courses to our visitors which makes SkillsScotland the most popular jobs fair in Edinburgh.

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 Royal Highland Centre for exhibitors to advertise current vacancies and courses information.

‘One of the reasons CITB has sponsored this event is we know there could potentially be a skills shortage in Scotland going forward and events like this are so important to make sure we capture the real character of the industry.’ – Exhibitor, CITB

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.

‘It’s really important for young people to come face-to-face with employers to see the huge range of career options that are ahead of them. I think having all of these employers in one place is a fantastic idea.’ – Exhibitor, Barclays Life Skills

If you would like to find out more about exhibiting at SkillsScotland on 2 November 2023 at The Royal Highland Centre, 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.