MORE than 100 unemployed young people made their way to Blackburn’s King George’s Hall in the hope of finding work.

The hall’s Windsor Suite was buzzing with smartly dressed 18 to-24-year-olds yesterday , all hoping to get a foot on the career ladder.

Council leader Kate Hollern and Khalid Saifullah, chairman of the Hive network for business leaders, devised the event to allow young people to meet business leaders to improve their employment prospects.

It came after they heard many were struggling not only to find jobs, but even to gain work experience, or receive feedback from interviews.

The young people had coaching beforehand to help them prepare for the day, and were told to turn up in their smartest clothes and with copies of their CV to sell themselves to potential employers.

A total of 29 employers signed up for the day – each one promising at least one work experience placement, while others had apprenticeships or even jobs on offer.

Blackburn with Darwen Council offered 35 placements, and each young person who attended was guaranteed to find a work experience placement at least, as well as help with interview techniques and CV writing.

Coun Hollern said: “I’m absolutely over the moon. The event has been much better than I could ever have imagined.

“We spent the last 12 months at venues around the borough talking to people, and their top priorities were jobs and unemployment. They were worried they would never get the chance they need, and employers have said to us that they don’t get to talk to young people, so we brought them together.”

Suzan Alobaidi, 24, from Blackburn, said: “I’ve been a student and I only finished two months ago. I’ve been at the Job Centre looking for a job but I’ve found it really hard.

“I did an HND in Legal Skills at Blackburn University and I thought I would easily get work experience but I’ve just been ignored. A solicitors’ firm gave me a card and told me to apply.”

And 24-year-old Ben Barnes from Blackburn said: “I’ve been unemployed for seven months. I went because I’d like to find a job or at least get a few interviews or some work experience.”