Around 40 of the region's top employers and professional bodies will be on hand to help West Cumbrian students prepare for the world of work.

The Jigsaw Student Aspiration Workshop, next Thursday, will include exhibition stands from the local companies and advice and guidance agencies.

The event, held at Energus, Lillyhall, has been designed to help sixth form and degree level students prepare for work and move on to the next step in their careers. 

Run by the Cumbria Joint Institution Group, a partnership of local professional bodies, the event will allow youngsters to take part in workshops and activity sessions.

They will get the chance to listen to advice from professionals, write applications for education and employment, learn how to present themselves during interviews, and get involved in workshops on career options.

Speakers during the day will include John Clarke, of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Rebecca Weston, of Sellafield, and David Batten, principal of Barrow Sixth Form College. 

There will also be a lecture on future energy from Professor Geoff Maitland, of Imperial College London and the Institution of Chemical Engineers. 

Running from 2.30pm to 7.30pm, the initiative will see a series of follow-on sessions towards Christmas and early next year.