More than 250 youngsters from eight Suffolk primary schools took part in a special two-day careers event.

The Skills Escalator days were arranged by West Suffolk College and the Eastern Education Group as part of the West Suffolk Business Festival 2023.

It saw a variety of industries create short interactive sessions for children, aged between five and seven, giving them an insight into the world of work.

The theme was agri-tech, construction and sustainability.

The group head of the skills escalator is Victoria Fiebelkorn. Victoria said: “What better way to celebrate the West Suffolk Business Festival than by hosting a Skills Escalator Day where

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we are engaging the youngest minds with the business community. These young people are the leaders of the future.”

Organisations who supported this event were BT, MIGANGLIA, Morgan Sindall, Munro, Suffolk Constabulary, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, Ubitricity, UK Power Networks, West Suffolk College digital schoolhouse and West Suffolk Council.

Simon Gill, design manager for Munro, said; “We have engaged with West Suffolk College for about 18 months and we’ve really enjoyed it.

“We explained what we do and the children have thoroughly enjoyed it and got to leave at the end of the day with more knowledge of our industry.”

Tracey Pelling, science lead at St Edmundsbury Primary School, Bury. Tracey said: “For us it is giving the children real life situations, aspirations in terms of careers and lots of hands on opportunities. It’s been wonderful.”

Debbie Coomes, assistant principal of the Eastern Education Group’s Built Environment campus. Debbie said: “A huge big thank you to the businesses, students, schools and our staff that have worked and participated in the escalator days.

“It’s been great to be able to inspire the next generation of construction and agri-tech workers.”

Other events this week for the West Suffolk Business Festival included a Young Trader Market in Bury St Edmunds, Cyber Escape Rooms in Brandon and Haverhill, and Safari Networking at West Suffolk College.

There was also a key gathering of the West Suffolk Manufacturing Group, an online workshop on overcoming the challenges of a changing labour market, and a Menta pop-in advice clinic in Mildenhall.

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For the Cyber Escape Rooms, Menta and @Inc Suffolk teamed up with the Norfolk and Suffolk Cybercrime for participants to step into the shoes of a detective ‘in a race against time to solve a case’.

The event tested knowledge, problem solving skills and teamwork to understand how cyber security and digital footprint could put businesses at risk.

Festival partners include Menta, The Apex, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, West Suffolk Council, New Anglia Growth Hub, New Anglia LEP, Bury Free Press, Iliffe Media, Bank of England, Visit Suffolk, West Suffolk College, Bury St Edmunds and Beyond, University of Suffolk, New Anglia Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Hethel Innovation, West Suffolk Manufacturing Group, The EpiCentre, FSB.