Dundalk Business Expo opens doors to future careers for local students

More than 250 secondary school students gathered in Dundalk yesterday for a Business Expo hosted by Dundalk Chamber and Dundalk Credit Union, designed to connect young people with local employers and showcase future career opportunities.

The event, which brought together 17 local businesses and enterprises, gave students the chance to meet directly with local employers from a range of sectors and gain insight into the skills needed for successful careers, including communication, teamwork to problem-solving and adaptability. 

A key feature of the day was an interactive Skills Match Challenge, which encouraged students to engage with every business stand and identify the skills used across different roles. This hands-on approach helped broaden students’ understanding of how skills are applied in real workplaces and highlighted the many career paths available locally.

Students explored a diverse mix of sectors, from further education and adult learning to volunteering and hospitality, and from accounting and engineering to finance, healthcare, business support, manufacturing, IT, robotics and sustainable energy.

From further education and adult learning to volunteering and hospitality, and from accounting and engineering to finance, alternative therapies, business support, manufacturing, IT, robotics and sustainable energy, students had the opportunity to learn about a wide and diverse range of businesses.

The expo also underlined the importance of strong partnerships between schools and businesses in raising awareness of career opportunities and helping young people understand how their skills can be developed and used in the workplace.

Hanna McDonnell, President, Dundalk Chamber commented:  “This expo was about giving students real exposure to the world of work and helping them understand that there are many different paths to a successful career. The engagement from both the students and the businesses was hugely positive.”

John McGahon, CEO, Dundalk Chamber added: “We are extremely grateful to all the local businesses who took time out of their working day to support this event. Their willingness to engage directly with students is invaluable. Partnerships between schools and local employers play a vital role in helping young people understand the range of career opportunities available and the skills needed to succeed in the world of work.”

Naomi O Donoghue of Dundalk Credit Union said: “We were delighted to provide the venue again for another hugely successful business expo. We spoke to hundreds of students this morning, who were curious about the various career paths and student placement options we have available at the credit union. It's great to see such high levels of participation from both schools and businesses, for what was undoubtedly a very valuable morning for students."

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A spokesperson for Dundalk Chamber said: "Dundalk Chamber would like to thank Denise Collins (ForeBee Consulting), Ann Gallagher (Skills to Advance), and Karen Morgan (LMETB) for organising today’s highly successful event. Sincere thanks also to Dundalk Credit Union for their generous sponsorship and support.

"Organisers also extended a sincere thank you to all the schools and teachers who participated in the event, making the day such a success."