A NORTH Yorkshire school played host to more than 50 businesses as part of their annual careers event.

Tadcaster Grammar School hosted its annual Careers Fayre and this year combined it with a Raising Aspirations Event involving 23 universities.

Hundreds of students, not just from Tadcaster, and their parents packed the main hall and Toulston Lodge to learn more about their future and the opportunities available to them.

The event also benefitted Tadcaster Grammar School BTEC Level 3 Business Studies students who helped to organise the careers event as part of their qualification.

“Toulston Lodge was so full at one point you couldn’t even get in the door and the Careers Fayre was positively buzzing," said Amanda Crossley, Partnership Development Manager at Tadcaster Grammar School and one of the organisers of both events.

She said: “This is the first time the Partnership Team has run a Higher Education Raising Aspirations event alongside our annual Careers Fayre, but we were thrilled with the attendance of 23 Universities from all across the country and the feedback has been so positive."

Local businesses taking part included Grace Films, RedRow Housing from Newton Kyme, Tadcaster & Rural Interest Company, Genesis Hair and Beauty, The Works Hair & Beauty, Lambert Engineering, Devine Meats, Newman-Wray Photography, and Moorhouses Opticians.

Those travelling from further afield included John Lewis and Nestle from York, Ark Design and Print from Pudsey and Leeds United, but there were accountants, florists, architects, joiners, painters and decorators and representatives from the RAF, Police and Army to name but a few.

“It was a great evening, really busy and a fantastic opportunity to meet students and parents and share our knowledge,” said Kirsty Perkins, Shooting Director with Grace Films of Tadcaster.

“A huge thank you must go to all the providers, businesses, professionals, Colleges and Universities who gave up their time on a very cold night to spend it with us and also congratulations to our BTEC students Tom Barfoot, Eleanor Hawkins, Harry Pike, Jamie Hardcastle, Oliver Macer, Matthew Starkey and Daniel Probert who passed with flying colours,” said Amanda.