A Havering resident has begun a course to become a tiler just days after attending the latest jobs fair held by Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Julia Lopez. The attendee was one of 241 people who joined Mrs Lopez's ninth Jobs, Skills & Apprenticeship Fair at Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, last Friday.

Mrs Lopez and her parliamentary team held the fair with the dedicated team at Romford JobCentre Plus, and early data from the event suggests that ten per cent of attendees have already taken steps to employment by securing job interviews or places on skills courses. Less than a week after the event, five attendees have even secured second interviews.

A wide range of local employers were at the Fair, including the Met Police, Stagecoach and St. Francis Hospice, while attendees were also able to chat to training providers in trades and the beauty industry including Debut Academy, New City College and Specialist Trade Courses (STC) Group.

Commenting on the fair Mrs Lopez said:

“The Romford JobCentre Plus team have once again been brilliant at helping us pull this event together, as have Queen's Theatre and local employers. 

“I love hearing how our Job Fairs have helped changed people's direction, giving them confidence to get back into work or try something different."

Julia Lopez has hosted a number of jobs fairs previously, with her last during apprenticeships week in February earlier this year.

The next fair organised by Mrs Lopez and her office is the Older People’s Fair on Friday 11 October, also hosted at Queen’s Theatre in Hornchurch. Updates relating to the Older People’s Fair will be posted across Mrs Lopez channels.