Jobs fair at Eden Project aims to keep young people in Cornwall

Plenty of young people in Cornwall grow up assuming the right job is somewhere else. A one-day event at the Eden Project is trying to show them otherwise.

Cornwall’s Jobs Fair takes place on Friday 23 October and will bring together dozens of businesses operating in Cornwall. It is aimed mainly at young people aged 18 to 24 who are not in education, employment or training.

Who the Eden Project jobs fair is for

During the day, the fair is for unemployed 18 to 24 year olds, who can find out about the jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities available in their local area.

From 1pm to 3pm it then opens to the wider public, so anyone interested can meet employers and find out what’s on offer.

In a video about the event, South East Cornwall MP Anna Gelderd says it is aimed at young people aged 18 to 24, “but everyone is welcome.”

More details will be posted on Anna Gelderd’s Facebook page in the run-up to the fair.

How the fair came about

Cornish Labour MPs Anna Gelderd, Jayne Kirkham and Perran Moon are inviting young people from across Cornwall to go along.

According to the MPs, the event follows their work with the Department for Work and Pensions to secure it. That included a letter from Anna to the Government on the need for better access to employment opportunities for young people in Cornwall, which Jayne and Perran co-signed.

What the figures show

The MPs point to local figures to make their case. In April 2026, 5,906 people in South East Cornwall were claiming Universal Credit and were not in employment, equivalent to 11.4% of the working-age population.

In Camborne and Redruth the figure was 7,825 people (12.9%). In Truro and Falmouth it was 5,077 people (8.5%).

The total number of people claiming Universal Credit is higher. House of Commons Library data shared by the MPs shows 9,948 claimants in South East Cornwall in April 2026, or 19.2% of the working-age population. Camborne and Redruth had 13,344 (22.0%) and Truro and Falmouth had 9,131 (15.3%). That compares with a rate of 16.4% across the South West and 19.7% for Great Britain.

What the MPs say

Anna Gelderd, MP for South East Cornwall, said: “I often speak to young people who want to build their careers in Cornwall and in the communities they grew up in but feel they have to look elsewhere to find the right opportunities.

“I am determined to put an end to this, and that is why I have been working with the Department for Work and Pensions and my fellow Cornish MPs to turn those conversations into action and help make this Jobs Fair happen. Bringing dozens of employers and organisations together in one place will make it easier for young people to find out what is available locally, whether that is a job, apprenticeship or training opportunity.

“I want young people across South East Cornwall to be able to see a future for themselves here. I hope as many people as possible will come along and make the most of the opportunities on offer.”

Jayne Kirkham, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: “Many young people are struggling to find a route from education into work. Our peninsula has so much to offer, with exciting future-focused industries from green energy to advanced manufacturing. Yet barriers remain, and some still feel they need to leave to achieve.

“This event is an important opportunity to bring businesses and young people together, helping them understand the skills employers need and opening up that route to careers here in Cornwall.”

📷Anna Gelderd, MP for South East Cornwall, talking about Cornwall's Jobs Fair at the Eden Project