Over 500 jobs were on offer from the 40 local businesses who were in attendance including Amazon, Virgin Media, Think Money and intu Trafford Centre.

The event was hosted free of charge by Ex-Manchester United player, Gary Neville, who as one of the hotel’s owners wanted to show his support in helping local people secure employment in the area, said:

“We are happy to support Trafford Jobs Fair, it is important to us to help young people into work and offer them an opportunity to gain experience in the hotel industry. When we signed the Trafford Pledge it was to fulfil the commitment we made and to look within the local community and give youth a chance.”

The Fair also saw Willmott Partnership Homes as the latest business to sign the Trafford Pledge. Willmott Partnership Homes, part of Willmott Dixon is responsible for constructing the Limelight development in Old Trafford for their client Trafford Housing Trust and both companies have been working in partnership with Trafford Council offering a range of work and training opportunities to local people on the site.

John Morewood, Operations Manager at the Limelight development from Willmott Partnership Homes said:

“We are delighted to be signing up to the Trafford Pledge, supporting young Trafford residents into employment. This is a fantastic scheme that very much aligns with our company ethos of supporting our local communities and leaving a positive legacy in the areas we work.

We have worked closely with Trafford Housing Trust on their £20 million redevelopment project in Shrewsbury Street. The construction of the new St Brides church and rectory was completed in March this year and the Limelight building will include extra care apartments, a café, health facilities, pharmacy, library and nursery for the local community and is due for completion in autumn 2017.  The Trafford Pledge team have helped us to promote the opportunities available, such as apprenticeships and work experience placements, to local job seekers and this has already resulted in some great success stories.

We look forward to working with Trafford Housing Trust and Trafford Council on future projects and helping to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Trafford.”

Speaking at the fair, Councillor Sean Anstee, Leader of Trafford Council said: “We are committed to working with other agencies, partners and businesses to improve job opportunities for local unemployed people. It has been so encouraging to see the huge difference the Pledge is making in providing over 700 jobs so far.

“I would like to thank all the businesses attending the Fair and Willmott Partnership Homes for signing up to the Pledge, as well as Hotel Football for their kind sponsorship of the event.”

The Trafford Jobs Fair is one of a schedule of events being delivered to support local people into work. The next event will be an Altrincham Jobs Fair to be held at Altrincham Town Hall on Thursday 29 th September between 11-3pm. Anyone interested in attending can register for a free place by emailing employment@trafford.gov.uk or by calling the Economic Growth Team on 0161 912 4176.

Alongside the Council, the other Trafford Pledge partners are Trafford College, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and National Careers Service. Through the Pledge, partners match  businesses committed to offering employment support through local jobs, apprenticeships, work experience or mentoring, with unemployed local people.

For more information about the Trafford Pledge, visit the www.trafford.gov.uk/business/trafford-pledge

Or contact the team on 0161 912 4176 or email traffordpledge@outlook.com