More than 250 young people from across the Tees Valley have been given the chance to meet employers, training providers and careers advisers at a major event aimed at opening up routes into local jobs
The Sector Pathways event, held at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on Thursday, February 26, brought together young people, families, colleges, training organisations and employers from some of the region’s fastest-growing industries.
The event gave attendees the chance to learn more about careers in sectors including clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital, health, construction and engineering.
A total of 253 young people attended the event, speaking directly with businesses and organisations including Draken, Balfour Beatty, Wilton Engineering, Katmex, Teesside Airport, Cleveland Police, the RAF, the Royal Navy, local colleges and Teesside University.
For many young people, the event was a chance to see that exciting careers are not just something that happen elsewhere, but are available right here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.
Among those attending was Ethan, 17, from Hartlepool, who left with new information about possible routes into mechanical and electrical engineering.
After speaking with Draken, based at Teesside Airport, Ethan said he had discovered work experience opportunities he now planned to follow up.
He said the event had helped him better understand the range of roles available locally and had “widened” his view of what his future could look like.
The National Careers Service was also at the event, offering one-to-one advice to young people and parents.
Visitors were able to explore apprenticeship opportunities, technical education routes, training options and the skills and qualifications needed to access careers across the region.
The event took place ahead of National Careers Week, which runs from March 2 to March 7, and is designed to help young people build confidence and excitement around their future career choices.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said it was encouraging to see so many young people and families engaging with local employers.
He said the region has many different routes into good jobs and that it is important young people are aware of the opportunities being created close to home.
He added that bringing employers and young people together matters because it helps local talent see a future for themselves in the Tees Valley.
Cllr Lisa Evans, Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills and Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, said the turnout showed the importance of connecting young people with employers and educators.
She said clear information about career routes helps young people make informed decisions and ensures local people are in a strong position to benefit from industries expanding across the region.
The Sector Pathways event forms part of wider work by the Tees Valley Combined Authority to connect young people with skills, training and employment opportunities.
Organisations attending included employers from engineering, infrastructure, construction, aviation, public services, education, housing, energy and digital sectors, alongside colleges and training providers from across the Tees Valley.
For young people like Ethan, the day offered something practical and hopeful: a clearer view of what comes next, and proof that the next step might be closer to home than they first thought.
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More than 250 young people explored future career routes at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium, meeting local employers, colleges and training providers from across engineering, construction, digital, clean energy, health and more.
For 17-year-old Ethan from Hartlepool, the event opened his eyes to work experience and engineering opportunities close to home.
A brilliant reminder that the Tees Valley’s future workforce is already here, they just need the right doors opening.
