Sheffield’s new careers expo tackles skills shortage head-on
More than 600 young people explored 85 live job, placement and work experience opportunities at the launch of a new careers expo designed to tackle skills shortages across Sheffield’s built environment sector.
FORM, an industry-led careers event, made its debut in the former John Lewis building, bringing together 75 employers and professionals from architecture, construction, engineering, planning, design, project management and the trades under one roof.
Targeted at 16-25-year-olds, the one-day event aimed to do more than showcase career options. It directly addressed two major challenges facing the region: helping young people understand clear, realistic routes into employment, and supporting employers struggling with skills gaps and talent retention.
Unlike traditional careers fairs, FORM removed corporate exhibition stands, CV drop-offs and formal recruitment barriers. Instead, the day focused on short talks, hands-on activities and open, honest conversations between students and professionals already working in the sector.
A total of 85 live roles were made available on the day, with employers committing to follow-up interviews, placements and recruitment discussions.
Organisers say the scale of engagement demonstrates both the appetite among young people for clearer career pathways and the urgent demand from industry for new talent.
FORM was created by Sheffield-based creative communications agency Peter & Paul, supported by the Sheffield Property Association and in collaboration with employers, educators and industry partners across the city.
Delivery partners included Sheffield City Council, Nineteen47, Homes by Honey, CMS, Urban Splash, Chapter II, Influence, Turner & Townsend, Pinders and Studio Jim.
For many employers, the event was as much about retaining local talent as it was about recruitment.
Kat Holland, Managing Director of Peter & Paul, said: “FORM was designed to challenge outdated models of careers engagement and create something genuinely useful for young people.
"Seeing over 600 students engaging in real conversations, exploring live opportunities, and leaving with clarity and confidence shows just how powerful this approach can be. Sheffield’s built environment sector is growing and evolving. If we want to secure its future, we have to make career routes visible, accessible, and inspiring. This is just the beginning.”
Rebecca Knight, Director of the Sheffield Property Association, added: “There’s still a perception that you have to leave Sheffield to build a successful career in the built environment, and FORM has powerfully shown that simply isn’t true.
"The quality, diversity and scale of opportunity on display prove that Sheffield and South Yorkshire offer outstanding career pathways. Events like FORM are critical in keeping talent in the region, supporting employers and strengthening the long-term future of our sector.”
Following its successful debut, organisers are now exploring plans to make FORM an annual fixture in Sheffield, with ambitions to expand its reach and potentially replicate the model in other sectors facing acute skills shortages.
With immediate job opportunities created, hundreds of direct employer-student conversations facilitated, and cross-sector collaboration demonstrated at scale, FORM’s launch signals a new approach to bridging the gap between education and employment in South Yorkshire.
For more information about FORM, visit: https://www.formcareersexpo.com/