Business leaders gathered in Norwich to lend their support to the launch of the inaugural Norfolk Skills and Careers Festival.

The interactive festival, which will be the only major skills and careers event to take place in Norfolk in 2016, hopes to attract more than 4,000 14 to 24-year-olds eager to explore career opportunities.

The festival will take place on March 9 and 10 at the Norfolk Showground and will be open to schools, colleges and individuals.

A coalition of Norfolk organisations have joined forces to ensure the county's future workforce continue to benefit from the chance to meet employers face-to-face, after organisers of a similar skills event in Norwich decided to move it out of county.

At the launch event, held at St Andrew's House yesterday, speakers including Chloe Smith MP, impressed the importance of bringing employers and young people together.

Mark Nicholas, event director, said: 'This is a wonderful opportunity for businesses and organisations to meet with Norfolk's potential future workforce.

'It provides a platform to connect with talented youngsters who could become gifted prospective employees.'

Businesses are currently being encouraged to support the two-day festival which will be structured around a number of employment sectors including energy, advanced manufacturing and engineering, ICT – digital and creative, financial and insurance services, leisure, tourism and culture, food and farming, health and social care and construction.

The festival is promoted by Norfolk County Council, Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, Easton and Otley College, City College Norwich, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, Norwich School, Archant, The College of West Anglia, UEA, University Campus Suffolk and a number of other partners.

Do you have a business story? Email kate.royall@archant.co.uk