QUEUES stretched outside Blackbird Leys Community Centre at the start of the estate’s first job fair, and for some participants it brought hope of a fresh start.

By noon the Glow Hall venue was packed as hundreds made their way around the event, organised by social enterprise Aspire. A total of 28 employers including Sainsbury’s, Wetherspoon and Oxford City Council pitched up to advertise the opportunities open to people in the area.

George Heeley, who lives in Blackbird Leys Road, lost his last job at Unipart some weeks before the event.

The 19-year-old said: “I’ve done stuff today I have never thought I would. I want to join the Army and travel the world. Coming from Blackbird Leys, you never get many opportunities. Work is very hard to get around here.”

Upcoming jobs in the construction sector were advertised by firm Willmott Dixon, which wants staff to join its renovation of Oxford’s tower blocks.

Project leader Richard Crook said: “We need site attendants, people on patrol, a trainee site manager and two quality surveyors. The towers will be a really worthwhile project and we are going to make some heavy investments in the community. There’s a massive skills shortage in this industry.”

A large number of people flocked to stalls run by nurseries, including Bright Futures and the Co-operative Childcare, which has a branch in Blackbird Leys.

Many of those present, including the Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers, told visitors real-world experience was just as important as qualifications.

Oxfordshire County Council’s social care careers manager Helen Hannay said: “What we look for more than qualifications is the right attitude and the right values.

“People who have cared for their family or volunteered before, we can train. We are also looking for people who are changing direction or want something more meaningful.”

Some of those who arrived had been out of work for a long time, but kept their hopes high.

Marcel Thorbourne, 55, who was homeless for six years and now lives in Cowley, wore a suit for the event. He said: “I have a background in law and am trying to get some sort of office experience.

“When you’re homeless you cannot comply with employment legislation as you don’t have a residential address. It made things very difficult.”

Aspire Oxford chief operating officer Paul Roberts said: “We have easily had 200 people. Having the event in Blackbird Leys has worked in reaching a different group.”