Blackpool Jobs Fair is back – bigger, better and focused on career progression
I’m constantly working to build a better Blackpool and a big part of that mission is to get you working too.
I’m happy to announce that my annual jobs fair – Blackpool’s biggest ever – is returning to the Winter Gardens Conference Centre on Thursday 26 February 2026.
Following the huge success of last year we’re going bigger and better with a stronger focus on helping local people access quality jobs, apprenticeships and long-term career progression.
Last year over 4,000 jobseekers came through the doors, with more than 1,500 job opportunities on offer and 1,000 jobs secured. 100 employers exhibited, from local small businesses to major organisations and it was a real reminder of the appetite for work, skills and opportunity here in Blackpool.
See what happened at last year’s jobs fair below.
Local people deserve access to secure, well-paid and future-proof jobs and that’s what this event is all about.
This year, the Jobs Fair has a stronger focus on quality jobs. We’re showcasing clear pathways into:
Skilled trades
Health and social care careers
Manufacturing and engineering
Hospitality and tourism management
Public sector careers
Apprenticeships and retraining routes
Digital and financial services
Alongside employers, we’ll also have wrap-around support services on hand – from CV workshops and employability training to careers advice, mental health and wellbeing support and guidance on further education and apprenticeships. My aim is to make sure people don’t just find a job, but the right career for them and hope for the future.
Our town has long been held back by low wages and seasonal work but we know that good, secure jobs transform lives – providing financial stability, a sense of purpose and hope for the future. These are the reasons why I’ve made Blackpool Jobs Fair an annual fixture and a central part of my long-term plan to boost fair pay, career progression and economic growth across Blackpool.
The backdrop to my jobs fair is a government which is making work pay. Labour has introduced a range of measures to support workers and strengthen job quality across the UK. These includes significant increases to the National Living Wage, boosting take-home pay for millions of low-paid workers.
Historic reforms have also come in through the Employment Rights Bill, expanding protections at work including banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, extending statutory sick pay and leave entitlements and enhancing rights against unfair dismissal and unsafe working practices.
Here I am in Parliament a year ago showing my support for Labour’s New Deal for Working People – the Employment Rights Bill which has now passed.
The government has also invested heavily in training, apprenticeships and skills development, helping people to progress in their careers and improve long-term employment prospects. Here in Blackpool, we want to make sure that residents benefit from these national opportunities while having access to local employers ready to hire now.
For Blackpool Jobs Fair 2026 we’ve secured some of the local areas largest and most respected employers, including:
BAE Systems
NHS
North West Ambulance Service
Lancashire Fire & Rescue
Lancashire Police
Blackpool Council
Blackpool & The Fylde College
Northern Rail
Victrex
Johnson & Johnson
Fox’s Biscuits
There’s many more too – all of them offering opportunities across sectors, skill levels and career paths.
Blackpool Jobs Fair 2026 is a real chance for our community to take control of their careers, access support and find meaningful, well-paid work. I encourage everyone who is looking for a job, an apprenticeship or a new career path to come along.
We saw what’s possible last year. Now let’s do it again and make 2026 the year that Blackpool works.
