A career ‘on the buses’ pitched to pupils at fair

The bus company has struggled with recruiting staff over the last year and that has resulted in hundreds of bus cancellations over the last few months. About 30 services a day are being dropped on weekdays at present.

Since lowering the bus driver age minimum from 21 to 18 in a bid to attract more candidates, the company wanted to try its hand at speaking to young people in person and attempt to attract them to a position there.

‘We fit in there quite well and that was what we wanted,’ said CT Plus marketing and PR officer Jon Ozanne.

‘It is a long time to wait until you’re 21, and there are some really fab opportunities available. We had conversations with people who already enjoy the bus network and people already had an appeal for the service.’

On its stand the company had a diversion game, where people were invited to choose where to place diversions on a map.

‘We think people don’t know their island but they really do. We would absolutely do the event again next year. We already have drivers in that age bracket and young people see that when they use the bus.’

The company reduced the age bracket in a bid to alleviate bus driver shortages which earlier this year led to regular cancellations.

About 50 employers were showcasing what they had to offer.

Head of the Guernsey Retail Group, Korinne Le Page, said there was much more to retail than stacking shelves.

‘Retail is really struggling to get the staff. Coming to these careers fairs we get the option to meet people and talk about what they are wanting to do.’

She often asks people what their hobbies are and suggests how retail could play into their interests.

‘I had a boy come to me before and say he likes sport so I said I would forward his name on to sport retailers. It is not all about shelf-stacking, there are creative jobs and marketing and behind the scenes jobs as well.’

While many young people were unsure of their career goals, they were aware of the benefits of the employment market being so buoyant for young people.

College of FE student Ciaren McCarthy, 17, was considering a career in property. He said that with the number of employment opportunities available at the moment, he would be open to considering options he may not have otherwise.

‘If it seemed like something I would be enjoying then I would.’

But sixth form student Casey Ansell was set on going into finance, and doubted that career shows were the best way to seek out new recruits.

‘I don’t think it is the best way to try and recruit people. Instead if you got all the employers in a room and heard about what they do, it would be a bit drawn out, but it would be a proper in-depth thing, rather than a quick

explanation of what they do,’ he said.