Animal antics a winning formula at skills event

Coventry’s Ricoh Arena was host to over 6,000 14-19-year-olds for the annual Skills West Midlands event. Lantra hosted a stand together with schools, colleges and training providers from across the region.

Skills West Midlands is the third Regional Skills Event that Lantra has attended. To encourage visitors to the stand, the marketing team has been working with employers and local colleges to bring to life some of the skills required to work in the sector. This has included playing host to feathered, furry and scaly friends including vultures, chinchillas and pythons.

Careers and Employability Manager, Chris Catchpole, said: “Having the animals and their trained keepers at the event has helped to draw young people of all backgrounds and abilities to the stand. As well as creating a talking point it provides stand staff with the opportunity to sell the range of opportunities in the sector.”

Other exhibitors at Skills West Midlands included Servicing Dog Handler PC Paul Hardy and 12-week-old German Shepherd puppy, Tilly. Currently in training, Tilly lives with PC Hardy and has been bred by the West Midlands Police breeding scheme. The event provided Tilly with the perfect opportunity for socialised training including getting used to big crowds, loud noises and different environments.

Lantra will be attending the following forthcoming Skills Events:

– 30 Sept – 1 Oct 2008 – North East Skills at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle

– 8-9 Oct 2008 – Skills Yorkshire and Humber at the Hallam FM Arena, Sheffield

– 20-22 Nov 2008 – London Skills at ExCel, London

– 3-5 Mar 2009 – Skills North West at Manchester Central (formerly GMEX) Manchester