Hundreds of local residents attended Telford's first Jobs and Futures Fair on Friday 6 November, meeting more than 30 employers offering around 200 job opportunities alongside hundreds of training places. The event was held at The Anstice in Madeley from 10am to 2.30pm, Shropshire Live reports.

The fair was hosted by Telford MP Shaun Davies with Telford College and supported by the UK government's Pride in Place Fund, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions. Employers taking part included Bridge Cheese, RBSL, Aviramp, Craemer, Kuehne + Nagel, Coforge and the National Trust, with roles on offer alongside apprenticeships, training and careers advice.

Free transport was laid on so as many residents as possible could attend, and registration was encouraged with a prize draw for an iPad donated by Coforge. Local boxer Liam Davies joined the event as a special guest to talk to young people about his career.

Mr Davies said he was delighted with the response, with hundreds of people coming along to explore the opportunities, speak directly with employers and find out about vacancies and training. He said the aim was to open doors and make connections, and he hoped the conversations held on the day would lead to real opportunities for local people.

The fair came against a difficult national backdrop for young jobseekers. Alan Milburn's interim report on young people and work, published in June, found that 84 per cent of young people not in education, employment or training want a job or training but are not getting the support they need, and warned the number affected could rise to 1.25 million within five years without urgent action.