Thousands of future workers are set to connect with Bay of Plenty employers at Canvas Careers Expo.

More than 3500 students from across the Bay will descend on Mercury Baypark as the region’s largest career event brings together young people and the businesses shaping the future of the area.

Hosted by The Rotary Club of Tauranga and Priority One, the expo returns on Thursday, August 6, and Friday, August 7, and includes employers, industry organisations, tertiary providers and training organisations from across New Zealand.

This year’s event features its largest industry representation yet, with sectors including construction, engineering, manufacturing, health, horticulture, technology, finance, logistics, tourism, Māori business, the trades, law, science and fishing.

The Rotary Club of Tauranga organiser Sue Boyne said the expo is designed to help students and career changers explore possibilities they may never have considered.

“The most valuable part of the expo is the opportunity to have genuine conversations with people working in the industries that interest you.

“Young people can ask what it’s really like to work in a particular sector, what employers are looking for, what qualifications are needed and what pathways exist. Those conversations can be life-changing.”

The event also allows businesses to showcase career opportunities, apprenticeships, cadetships and training pathways, with a number of exhibitors actively recruiting future talent.

“Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping rangatahi make sense of the many pathways in front of them,” Priority One’s Instep manager Michelle Clarke said.

“By attending the Canvas evening session together, whānau can listen, explore and ask the questions a young person may not yet know to ask. It is not about having all the answers or choosing a career on the night. It is about creating space for curiosity and starting conversations that can continue long after Canvas is over.”

Organisers say face-to-face conversations with industry professionals can help students better understand career options and the skills needed to succeed.

Beyond helping students make informed decisions about their future, the expo also supports the region’s workforce development by strengthening connections between education and industry, ensuring young people gain a better understanding of the opportunities available close to home.

“The expo runs both Thursday, August 6, and Friday, August 7. There are sessions both days between 9am and 2pm and a 4-8pm session on the Thursday evening, which is a great opportunity for students to attend with their parents and whānau,” Boyne said.

The Canvas Careers Expo is free to attend.