This year’s Shropshire Star Jobfinder Exhibition was a huge success – and the decision to switch venue really paid off.

The two-day event was moved this year from Telford’s International Centre to the town’s shopping centre.

At least of one of the major exhibitors really noticed the difference. Telford and Wrekin Council received double the number of inquiries on day one than it had during the whole of last year’s event.

As a result the council is already planning to double the size of its stand at next year’s exhibition.

“The decision to move to Telford shopping centre made a big difference,” said the Shropshire Star’s co-ordinator of the exhibition, Michael Haines.

“There were a tremendous amount of inquiries on the Friday. And although I think most people on the Saturday were mainly shoppers, the stands were still busy. It went very well.”

A diverse range of careers and jobs were represented on nearly 30 stands in the centre’s shopping malls last Friday and Saturday at the fifth Shropshire Star Jobfinder Exhibition.

In a major shift of emphasis this year, the event was aimed at jobseekers of all ages rather than just school and college leavers.

It meant a broad cross-section of people could get something out of visiting the stands.

Exhibitors offered advice on a wide range of jobs and careers including retail, manufacturing, local government, childcare and engineering. Careers advisers and Further Education experts were also on hand.

It was the chance for jobseekers to meet prospective employers face to face in a relaxed environment.

In addition to Telford and Wrekin Council, Shropshire County Council was also represented. Major companies supporting the exhibition included Epson Telford, Ricoh UK, Shropshire Newspapers, South Staffordshire Water, Arriva Midlands and West Bromwich Building Society.

Educational establishments who ran stands included TCAT (Telford College of Arts and Technology), the University of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire University and Overley Hall School, Telford.

Other groups with stands were Shropshire Magazine, GP Homecare, TCS Recruitment, Extra Personnel, Mentors for Young People, Total People, Early Years Childcare, Travail Employment Group, Learn Direct, HBOS and Care UK.

“One of the great benefits of the Jobfinder event is that we are able to bring together a number of large and small employers under one roof, all of whom are actively seeking to recruit,” said Mr Haines.

The decision to open up this year’s event by taking it into the shopping centre clearly made it more accessible to a wider range of people.

It meant that the event catered for those aged from 16 to 65 looking for part-time or full-time work.

There was also plenty for people considering full-time education or retraining.

And it allowed people to combine a shopping trip with the chance to chat to a prospective employer.

“Overall this year’s exhibition was a great success,” said Mr Haines.

Jobfinder is a just a part of the Shropshire Star’s well-respected recruitment package which includes the Jobfinder supplement every Thursday and regular Job Choice features.

There is also a specialist website, wwwjobfinder.co.uk, where you can not only find the latest vacancies at your fingertips but also get a CV match to find the job that best suits you.

“We are respected by employers and we take every opportunity to build on our newspaper’s reputation as the number one place to go to for local recruitment news,” added Mr Haines.