Young people were able to network, discover new opportunities and explore a range of different jobs on offer yesterday at The Berkeley Institute’s career fair.

A fifth annual event allowed 600 students to engage with 41 different organisations from across the island’s financial, health and social care sectors.

Keisha Allen-Smith, director of staff development and instruction, and Tonisha Key-Holmes, an English teacher and professional development co-ordinator, helped to organise the event, which saw the school’s gym transformed.

Ms Allen-Smith said: “This career fair is an opportunity for businesses to come and showcase the careers and services that they offer.”

She emphasised the importance of young people giving thought to their future as soon as they begin their time at school.

“Our vendors here today can also tell them the educational path it took for them to get to their careers.”

S4 pupils Qash Lambert and Ayize Broadley want to pursue trades when they leave school.

Speaking of the importance of the fair, Mr Broadley said: “It helps us determine what type of job we want to do.”

Mr Lambert added: “It allows us to network with different companies and institutions and helps us to try to get scholarships and see what the pathways are.

“We have a very strong family here at Berkeley. They encourage and assist us.”

“It’s pretty good. It kind of gives the kids an idea, or a hint, as to what they might like,” explained Hafiz Dill, occupational health and safety specialist at the Bermuda Hospitals Board, who has attended the event in previous years.

“Obviously, a lot of us go into university as freshmen knowing what we want to do, but this gives them a little hint.”

Speaking of the BHB’s presence, Mr Dill added: “Today, you have anything from maternity, to nursing staff development, to HR, you have the lab, you have MWI, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. There’s a wide variety of things.”

Halle Simons and Alexandria Crippen used the fair to reaffirm their chosen career paths.

The 17-year-olds praised the event and the overall support from teachers at the school.

Ms Simons, who hopes to one day be an anaesthesiologist, was offered advice as well as the chance to shadow someone at the hospital.

She said: “I would like to work in Bermuda.

“I got a lot of encouragement that there will be availability. They are looking for more Bermudians in the industry as a whole.”

She said that in the school, she felt “there’s always someone there to listen to me and help me if I need it”.

Ms Crippen said: “At this event I was really able to solidify what I want to do. My goal is to become a financial crime prosecutor.”

She added: “They make the career fair a big deal. It’s such a big opportunity that I’m grateful for. Berkeley gives us a lot of opportunities.”

Entrepreneurship was also on show, with Makao Butterfield, a 16-year-old S3 pupil, at his own table selling drinks from his brand, Quench Lab BDA.

He started the venture with his mother, N’Gina Butterfield, last summer and things have gone from strength to strength.

Mr Butterfield said: “All of my teachers have helped get me out there and helped me expand.

“I would definitely want to do this full time and become a big business owner.”