Thousands of Norfolk school children will next month get help forging their future at what is believed to be the largest careers fair for students ever held in the county.

Some 2,000 young people will head to the Choose Your Future event at the Norfolk Showground in Costessey, which will showcase careers in the county's thriving jobs sectors – energy, engineering, construction and manufacturing.

The event is the first of its kind for Norfolk, with an estimated 60 to 70 exhibitors demonstrating their work and careers available through interactive displays and activities.

The Norfolk County Council-funded careers event, run in partnership with Build Norfolk and oil and gas skills body OPITO, will be held between 9.30am and 2.30pm on Thursday, November 28, for Year 9 students and above.

George Nobbs, leader of Norfolk County Council and cabinet member for economic development, said: 'The event will show students as well as careers advisers what options are available in some of the county's key employment sectors and how to prepare for a career in them.

'We need to provide Norfolk's young people with as much help and advice as possible in order for them to reach their potential.

'Our county is rich with talented children and by providing this opportunity for them to meet local businesses and interact with them will hopefully open their eyes to new careers they hadn't considered before.'

Interactive activities already confirmed at the event include a simulation of what it is like to steer a ship, bricklaying, wiring circuit boards, using a mini digger, replacing brake pads, plumbing and using a Lego robot.

Event organiser Mark Baxter, from Build Norfolk, said: 'So far we have had a fantastic response, as after contacting over 70 schools we have more than 2,000 students signed up to come along.

It is anticipated that the event will draw the largest student audience ever assembled in Norfolk and we have some very exciting companies coming along with interactive demonstrations to educate and inform the county's workforce of the future in an engaging way.'

Liz Davis-Smith, OPITO regional manager, said: 'The region's energy industry is helping to shape and secure the next generation of talent that will drive our industry forward.

'Our industry's pledge to engage with young people in this way is helping change the younger generations' perception of the sector and encourage more of them to consider oil and gas as a career choice.'

Schools interested in attending need to book at www.buildnorfolk.co.uk/events or call 01263 735486.