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Meet the Employer Activity to Launch at Kent Construction Expo 2026
The Kent & Medway Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), in partnership with the South East Consortium, is helping to deliver a new Meet the Employer activity through the Kent Construction Expo Skills and Workforce Partnership at this year’s Expo on Thursday 1st October 2026. This pilot initiative aims to connect employers directly with the next generation of construction talent while supporting one of the key priorities identified within the LSIP: strengthening the entry pipeline into the sector and improving careers awareness, sector perception and work readiness.
Connecting Students with Construction Employers
The Meet the Employer activity has been designed to give students and prospective entrants to the construction industry the opportunity to engage directly with employers from across the sector.
During the session, groups of learners will rotate around employer tables, enabling them to hear first-hand from construction professionals, learn about different career pathways, understand the skills needed for success, and ask questions about jobs, apprenticeships and progression routes.
For employers, the activity provides an opportunity to showcase their business, engage with emerging talent and help inspire the future workforce that the industry needs to support growth and major development projects across Kent and Medway.
A Valuable Industry Experience
Alongside the Meet the Employer sessions, students will have the opportunity to explore the wider Kent Construction Expo, visit exhibitor stands and speak directly with businesses from across the construction and built environment sector.
This broader Expo experience will allow learners to discover the wide range of career opportunities available, make industry connections and gain a greater understanding of the construction sector and the businesses operating within it.
Employer Interest Already Secured
A number of organisations have already expressed an interest in participating in the activity, including both Kent Construction Expo exhibitors and businesses attending the event. These organisations represent a variety of disciplines across the sector.
To ensure students can engage with employers that reflect their own area of study and career aspirations, we are continuing to strengthen representation across a number of key trades. In particular, we are keen to hear from employers operating within:
Supporting a Key LSIP Priority
The activity has been developed in response to employer feedback gathered through the LSIP process, which identified the need to strengthen entry routes into employment, improve careers education and raise awareness of opportunities within the sector. Construction employers across Kent and Medway continue to report skills shortages across a range of occupations, including many traditional trades, making early engagement with future talent increasingly important.
By bringing employers and students together in a practical, engaging environment, the Meet the Employer activity seeks to provide meaningful industry insight while helping employers inspire and attract future recruits.
Get Involved
As this is the first activity of its kind at the Kent Construction Expo, we hope it will become a successful model that can be expanded at future events, creating even stronger links between education and industry across Kent and Medway.
If your organisation would be interested in supporting the Meet the Employer activity, or if you can recommend businesses that may be willing to participate, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact:
Sarah Parrish
LSIP Officer, Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce
📧 sarah@kentinvictachamber.co.uk
Find out more about the Skills and Workforce Partnership:
Skills and Workforce Partnership
