Lift-off time for SkillCity Highland

Following a triumphant pilot last year, SkillCity Highland 2005 - the largest careers event ever held in the Highlands - was launched today, Tuesday 13 September 2005, at the Highland Football Academy and Ross County Football Club, Dingwall.

Organised by Careers Scotland Highlands and Islands, the three-day event is set within the limits of a vibrant city divided into lively career zones that cover everything from the armed forces and business enterprise to careers in construction, the arts, the natural environment, hospitality - and much more. Around 70 businesses and organisations from across the Highlands and Islands are taking part, offering exciting career tasters to over 3,000 students from high schools all over the region.

Out go the desks and leaflets, in comes the opportunity to put your career choice on the line - and find out if it's the right one by giving it a go! Sandy Cumming, chief executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), officially launched the proceedings at a special lunchtime event at which dynamic entrepreneur and Young Enterprise Scotland champion Michael Anthony Jackson was the guest speaker. Nairn Academy Salsa Band contributed their lively brand of music to the occasion, playing a short set before Mr Cumming spoke, and providing an upbeat conclusion to the launch after Mr Jackson's speech.

Sandy Cumming commented: "When HIE's developing skills group and Careers Scotland launched SkillCity Highland 2004, nothing quite like it had been done in Scotland before.

"It broke new ground with an ambitious, innovative approach which pupils could really relate to. Young people aren't easily impressed, so when you get feedback like 'awesome', you know you must be doing something right."

Commenting on the importance of 'giving it a go,' Mr Jackson said: "The will to succeed comes from confidence in one's own abilities. SkillCity is a golden opportunity for young people to test themselves - find out if they've got what it takes to set off on that career path and stick at it until they've reached their goal of excellence. Choosing a career is one of the fundamental life choices we make, and this is the place to test those choices and see if they're the right ones."

Sandy MacKenzie, business development manager of key sponsors Tulloch plc said: "This is what SkillCity is all about - using a combination of instinct, skills and knowledge to answer the question of what you want to do in life. SkillCity shows you what you need to do, then gives you the chance to find out if you can - it's a fantastic practical learning curve that no amount of book-based research can give you."

This year's visitors to SkillCity Highland can try their hand at physiotherapy, climb into the cockpit of a harrier, take care of a horse, or have a go at orbital welding, joinery, hair dressing, clearing a forest and fitness testing. And that's just a sampler from the 70-plus career skills options that are waiting.

Sandy Cumming said: "I've no doubt that we're raising the bar with the SkillCity model of careers fair. The rest of the country is taking note and I'm sure this year's event will be just as successful as the first."