The inaugural ‘Your Future Here’ careers fair, organised by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and Countryside Learning Scotland will take place on 12 September at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort and already has more than 400 young people from the National Park registered to attend.

Free to attend and with places still available for the afternoon session from 2pm to 5.30pm, the event aims to show young people living in the Cairngorms National Park the breadth of careers they can undertake here. This won’t be your traditional careers event – out are the bland corporate stands and endless promotional materials and brochures, in are practical workshops and demonstrations, breakout spaces for one-to-one chats, as well as live job and training opportunities.

Organisations representing a wide range of industries, including environment and conservation, digital technology, engineering, manufacturing, food and drink, hospitality, energy and renewables and forestry and land management will be there on the day to talk to young people about career options in their organisations.

Sandy Bremner, Convener at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said: “This is a fantastic chance for young people to discover the exciting range of opportunities on their doorsteps. It’s an event that will transform the lives of some of the young people attending. It will open the door to incredible careers – and it should be fun. Whether you are weighing your career options, or you don’t have a clue what you would like to do, this could turn out to be the most important few hours you have ever spent.”

The event will comprise talks from employers based in the National Park and young people who have embarked on a broad range of careers here, as well as live Q&A sessions and workshops delivered by LANTRA, Highland Employability Service, Growbiz and Chris Tiso.

Ian Robertson, Chief Executive of Countryside Learning Scotland, agrees: “I am delighted that so many schools and young people have registered to attend the Your Future Here careers fair next week. It is certainly going to be a careers fair with a difference, and I am looking forward to welcoming the inspirational speakers, workshop hosts, and of course the National Park’s young people, who I am sure will get a lot out of the event.

“Shining a light on the diverse range of careers available in rural places like the Cairngorms National Park is critical to ensuring a bright future for rural communities. ‘Rural careers’ are changing and evolving hugely in the past decade, and I look forward to hearing from the range of employers who will be in attendance, there to meet the future stars of their organisations.”

The careers fair is free to attend and is aimed at those who are leaving education or who are already in the early stages of their working lives and are looking to take the next step and explore new roles and opportunities. Tickets can be booked here.