Festival of Employability 2026: Inspiring Futures and Building Confidence
Empowering learners, boosting confidence, and opening doors—our Festival of Employability 2026 brought careers to life.
We were delighted to host our Festival of Employability on 28th May 2026 — a vibrant and engaging event designed to inspire our learners and support them on their journey into the world of work.
The day brought together a fantastic mix of external partners, expert speakers, and interactive workshops, all focused on helping our learners gain valuable insight into real working environments and understand the many pathways into employment.
A Huge Thank You to Our External Guests
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our external visitors who generously gave their time and expertise. Their contributions were invaluable in helping our learners understand the realities of different industries and the skills needed to succeed.
Our guests included:
- Havering Works, who showcased their Trailblazers and Connect to Work programmes, offering guidance on local career opportunities, training, and routes into employment.
- New Hall Nursery, sharing insights into careers in early years education and childcare.
- University of East London Outreach Team, providing advice on higher education and progression routes.
- Teaching Personnel, offering expert guidance on careers in education and recruitment pathways.
- Crisp Design & Photography, who delivered a hands-on creative advice, giving learners a taste of photography and web design careers.
Their real-world knowledge and practical advice made a lasting impact, helping our learners to feel more confident about their future career choices.
Engaging Workshops and Interactive Sessions
The Festival was packed with a variety of engaging sessions designed to build confidence and develop employability skills.
A special thank you goes to our dedicated tutors — Richard Priest, Carole Vuarrier, and Karen Riley — for delivering such informative and inspiring workshops throughout the day.
Sessions included:
- Fix My CV
- STAR Method for Interviews
- AI Tools for Job Searching
- Workplace Scenarios – “What Would You Do?”
- ENIC Applications Support
- Early Years & Teaching Assistant – How to Get a Placement
Havering Adult College’s Festival of Employability 2026 was a vibrant, hands-on event designed to inspire learners and prepare them for the world of work. With expert-led workshops, industry insights, and interactive sessions, attendees gained valuable skills, built confidence, and explored real pathways into employment.
We were absolutely delighted with the fantastic turnout and the positive feedback we received from learners, highlighting the real impact of the day. Comments such as “I got a lot of information for my future,” and “Friendly, informative, exciting” reflect the overall experience, while others shared how the event helped them feel more prepared and confident, with one learner noting “I am more prepared for being interviewed by a potential employer.” It was especially encouraging to hear how the sessions boosted confidence, with feedback like “I really enjoyed it and it gives me more confidence.”
To see the highlights from the day, take a look at our Instagram video, and don’t forget to sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear about future events. If you’re interested in our Employability courses or our Employability and Skills Hub, please get in touch on 01708 434955 or email enquiries@adultcollege.co.uk for more information.
Festival of Employability Welcome Board
New Hall Nursery Stall Speaking With Learners
HAC Event Stall
Havering Works members Aggie and Robert
