YOUNG people and their parents from across the county are invited to this year’s Wiltshire Skills Festival to explore their futures.

Students aged 14 and 15 years old from schools all over Wiltshire will be attending the event at Wiltshire College in Lackham on Tuesday, June 29 and Wednesday, June 30 from 9.15am to 3.30pm.

This year there is also a special parents’ session on Tuesday, June 29 from 4.30pm to 7pm. Any parents keen to help their children decide on their future learning and career options, or just wanting to find out more, can attend.

More than 2,000 students and their parents are expected to attend the hands-on festival. They will have the chance to talk directly to employers, universities, training and college representatives and to try an exciting range of activities in fields such as engineering, motor sports, animal care and food preparation.

Popular activities last year, for example, included building a wooden bird box, having a go at bricklaying, trying out night vision goggles, tasting a chocolate fountain, reading a television news autocue and testing organic face packs.

The popular Connexions ‘Big Brother’ Diary Room will again be there to record students’ thoughts and impressions while the team from Wiltshire Council’s Sparksite youth website and online radio station will record the day’s activities.

More than 50 employers and learning providers will be represented, from sectors including engineering, construction, motoring, electronics, media, design, performing arts, photography, hair, beauty, health and social care, sport, retail, fashion, tourism, catering, business, professional services, agriculture, animal husbandry, floristry, the Armed Forces and the emergency services.

To find out more about the festival go to www.wiltshire-skills-festival.co.uk or call Maggie Dalton at Connexions Salisbury on 01722 424400.