Unlock Your Future at the Tees Skills Careers Fair: Connect with Top Employers and Inspiring Leaders!

Inspiring speakers, major employers, and top regional organisations are joining forces to deliver the inaugural Tees Skills Careers Fair. Schools across the region are eager to bring their students to this landmark event for the Tees Valley.

Organised by Resolution Media and Publishing, the team behind Tees Business, the careers fair takes place at Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium on Wednesday, December 10.

Demand from education providers has been exceptional, with places snapped up by a wide mix of education trusts, secondary schools, and colleges eager to secure opportunities for their pupils.

Bringing together hundreds of ambitious young people aged 14–18, the Tees Skills Careers Fair will connect students directly with employers, training providers, and industry leaders from across Teesside.

The event builds on the highly successful launch of the annual Tees Skills publication, which shines a spotlight on the wealth of opportunity available to local young people.

Students will be travelling from across the Tees Valley and beyond – including Darlington, Hartlepool, Guisborough, Brotton, Middlesbrough, and Stockton.

Around 400 students are expected from organisations including Atomix Educational Trust, Outwood Academy Trust, Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, Middlesbrough College, Northern Education Partnership, and Hartlepool College of Further Education.

What’s Happening on the Day

The careers fair will be packed with activity from start to finish, featuring:

• Almost 30 exhibition stands from employers and training providers.
• Inspirational talks from leaders in high-growth sectors such as tech, engineering, and emerging careers.
• A choice of presentations designed to spark ambition and open students’ eyes to future pathways.

Among the many exhibitors are Paralloy, CF Fertilisers, Intelect, Education Training Collective, Middlesbrough College, Esh Group, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Augean, Waythrough, Outrank, Devereux Transport & Distribution, Tracerco, Wilton Engineering, Teesside University, ITS, Azets, Moonrise, Muckle, Atomix Educational Trust, and Middlesbrough Community Learning Service. Charities including The Teesside Charity, Teesside Hospice, and Power of Women will also be on hand to share opportunities for engagement and volunteering.

A Powerful Speaker Line-Up

Students will hear from some of the region’s most inspiring figures, including:

Claire Preston

Co-founder of Work Ready Collective & inaugural Tees Businesswoman of the Year

Ready for What’s Next? – Preparing for the world of work and learning how to show up, stand out, and step confidently into the future.

Rachel Burke

Director, Tracerco & Power of Women, Tees Businesswoman of the Year 2025–26

Rachel shares her remarkable journey from TS1 and leaving school at 16 with few qualifications, to becoming an award-winning business leader – and the life lessons she learned along the way.

Jordan Thornhill & Hannah Stocker

Outrank

A behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of digital marketing and the exciting pathways available in one of Teesside’s fastest-growing sectors.

Imran Anwar

CEO, Alt Labs & Tees Tech Ambassador 2025

An inside look at the tech and digital careers powering Teesside’s transformation.

Neil Young

Teesside Freeport skills & workforce development manager

Supported by Janine Armstrong and Suzanne Strathern, Neil explores the high-growth careers emerging across the Tees Valley – from clean energy and offshore to advanced manufacturing, innovation, and digital.

Professor Dr Muhammad Safwan Akram

Teesside University

A fascinating journey into the future of medicine, engineering biology, and biomanufacturing – and the skills needed to succeed in fast-evolving bioscience industries.

Laura Bains

Technip Industries

An insight into how careers in technology, engineering, and construction are transforming – and the routes young people can take to join this dynamic sector.

Dave Allan, director of Resolution Media and Publishing, said: "We’re excited to deliver our first event of this kind – bringing the business and education sectors together to inspire and inform our young people about the possibilities on their doorstep in education, training, apprenticeships, and careers.

"We’re grateful to everyone partnering with us on the Tees Skills Careers Fair – especially sponsors North East STEM Foundation – and to the many people giving up their time to speak to the students. It’s yet another reminder of the outstanding community spirit within our region."

Every student attending will receive a Future Starter Kit Bag, proudly sponsored by the North East STEM Foundation.

With the iconic Riverside Stadium as its backdrop, the Tees Skills Careers Fair is set to be a game-changing experience for both students and employers.

It will showcase the incredible range of opportunities available right here – reinforcing a powerful message: Young people can build brilliant, exciting, and meaningful careers without ever leaving the Tees Valley.