Banbridge Academy hosted its biennial careers fair ‘Pathways’ on Wednesday 16 September. The event brought together students, parents, employers and education providers for a full day of activities geared towards helping the young people of the school and wider community to explore future pathways.

The careers fair featured more than 80 exhibitors, including over 50 employers, alongside universities, colleges, training organisations and professional bodies. Exhibitors represented a diverse range of sectors including engineering, manufacturing, construction, life sciences, information technology, finance and law.​ ​

Alongside this, over 100 pupils interested in careers in the healthcare sector enjoyed a morning of lectures from eminent practitioners in the field of dentistry, veterinary surgery and medicine as part of the school medical society’s own in house conference.

Banbridge Academy also welcomed more than 200 sixth form students from across the Area Learning Community, including visitors from Banbridge High School, St Patrick’s College, New Bridge Integrated College and Dromore High School.

A key focus of the event was showcasing the breadth of opportunities available within both the local economy and the wider Northern Ireland employment landscape. The school was delighted to welcome both multinational corporations such as Deloitte and Boeing, as well as key homegrown businesses including Toymaster and Harland and Wolff. Students engaged directly with many of the organisations driving economic growth across the region, including employers from advanced manufacturing, aerospace, infrastructure, professional services, digital technology and healthcare. These conversations provided valuable insight into future skills needs, career pathways and emerging opportunities within Northern Ireland’s evolving economy.​ ​

The event also demonstrated the strength of collaboration between education and industry. Representatives from over 30 universities and colleges across Northern Ireland and the UK joined employers to discuss degree programmes, apprenticeships, work experience placements and graduate opportunities. An extensive programme of afternoon seminars further explored careers in sectors such as engineering, law, IT, and environmental services.

By bringing together such a diverse range of organisations under one roof, the careers fair provided young people with a unique opportunity to explore their ambitions, make informed decisions about their futures and gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities available both locally and beyond.

Banbridge Academy extends its sincere thanks to all exhibitors, speakers and visiting schools whose support helped make the event such a success.