The Skills Minister sounded a ringing endorsement for Generation Hitchin saying the event aimed at getting young people’s futures off to a flying start was at “the heart of the Government’s agenda” on opportunity.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Skills) Alex Burghart formally opened the latest ‘Gen X’ event for 15 to 18-year-olds, showcasing career, training and apprenticeship opportunities, and delivered by Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

He said: “This is absolutely at the heart of the Prime Minister’s agenda, the Government’s agenda, which is about opportunity. The system we are trying to build gives everybody the next opportunity, the next step up, for the whole of their career, for their own good, for business, for the good of the economy and the good of the country.

“Coming to an event where there are people talking about how we get information, how we get more young people involved, is absolutely spot on for awareness raising of the alternatives that are out there.

“Meeting people who are involved in apprenticeships is fantastic. I want you to know we really value these apprenticeships you’re offering. We know that young people want to do them, we know they’re an excellent route into the jobs of today and tomorrow.”

Almost 500 registered to attend the event for Hitchin and the surrounding area, at The Priory, Hitchin. It was led by the LEP along with The Careers and Enterprise Company, North Hertfordshire College, biz4biz and Amazing Apprenticeships.

Young people were able to seek advice from representatives from Amazon.com, Oliver Bonas, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, MBDA, University of Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire District Council, John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance, Morgan Sindall Construction and others.

Adrian Hawkins, Hertfordshire LEP Skills and Employment Board Chairman, and biz4Biz Founder and Chairman, urged businesses to get involved with apprenticeships, saying: "What a great way to get the next generation of staff underway in your business. I can only heartily recommend that it is a great process to get involved in.”

He added: “We are extremely grateful for the partnership with Careers and Enterprise Company which allows us to work with 109 schools and colleges across the county. The CEC funds our Careers Hub which enables schools to introduce systemic activities that will ensure students gain a greater awareness of the opportunities available to them.”

Kit Davies, CEO and Principal North Hertfordshire College, said: “Now is the right time to strike on skills. It’s the right time to shout and be proud about joining business, providers and schools and organisations together - because together is how we make a difference.

“The skills landscape is changing in a massive way around how organisations will be legislated to work together for the benefit of young people in skills training. We’re going to have local skills and improvement plans on our doorstep forcing conversations to happen all for the benefit of young people.”

Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden, said: “Skills really matter but not per se, in themselves, they matter because they are the foundation of every single business. The core of what you do is people, and those people can only be effective if they have the right skills to do the job.”

Sir Oliver Heald, MP for North East Hertfordshire, said: “Apprenticeships can be the way to a very good life and I was really thrilled to see young people enjoying what they’re doing today and of course, the employers too as we couldn’t help young people without you.”

Anna Morrison, Founder and Director of Amazing Apprenticeships, said “This event has been a really important in supporting young people and their families to become better informed about apprenticeships. There are so many fantastic apprenticeship opportunities out there and many of these are in Hertfordshire, and so helping potential apprentices to meet and speak with their potential employers of the future is incredibly exciting”

• If you are a young person or employer, visit Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal to connect with opportunities for jobs, careers, courses and apprenticeships in the area.