Forum3 turns 10 in September
forum3, the UK’s only not-for-profit recruitment, networking and volunteering event, will celebrate its tenth anniversary in September. Since its launch in 2001, forum3 has become the must-attend annual event for the not-for-profit sectors, attracting more than 100,000 people to engage with the third sector.
More than 10,000 job seekers and potential volunteers are expected to meet some of the country’s best-known charities at this year’s event, held on September 24-25 at London’s Business Design Centre in Islington. The not-for-profit sector has embraced the event, which includes an exhibition, seminar programme and networking events. Over 100 charities will be present this year, many having returned again and again. In fact five organisations have exhibited at forum3 for all ten events, including volunteer organisations VSO, National Council of Volunteer Organisations and do-it.org.uk, along with housing association Look Ahead Housing and Care.
This year’s event also sees new organisations take part in forum3 for the first time, such as learning disability charity Mencap. They will join leading UK charities and not-for profit organisations, including World Vision, V&A Museum, The Big Issue, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation all looking to recruit new talent and discuss the latest sector developments.
forum3’s double digit milestone demonstrates the sector’s strength and increasing professionalism, forum3 director Deborah Hockham said.
“We are celebrating ten years of forum3, but also the sector’s achievement and success over the past decade,” she said. “Charities and not-for-profit organisations have become much more professional in the past ten years, from how they are run to how they attract talent, becoming more competitive with the private sector.”
“Many take marketing more seriously, and understand they need to promote themselves like businesses if they want to attract the talent that businesses do. While they may not be able to pay as much, the flexibility, work conditions, values and contributions to society that come with a job in the sector are increasingly attractive to people.”
While recruitment in general has moved online in the past ten years, forum3 has been able to maintain its relevance as it provides a chance for face-to-face discussion and debate for those committed to the third sector or those interested in getting involved, Ms Hockham said,
“A live event allows people to interact, and allows exhibitors to make their brand come alive,” she said. “Having talented, motivated candidates in front of you is more compelling than sifting through applications from anonymous people who sit at home shooting out dozens of cvs to anywhere they find.”
In an increasingly competitive field, forum3 has provided international development and volunteering charity VSO ten years of essential access and exposure to connect with people, spokesperson Laura Hudson said.
“International volunteering has shown a real growth in interest and new offerings in the past ten years, from ‘voluntourism’ to corporate and professional schemes, so competition has increased and made recruitment more challenging,” she said.
“forum 3 is the busiest exhibition in our calendar and it’s vital for us. We are always overwhelmed by the number of people we talk to at the event and the influx of enquiries and applications afterwards.”
This year’s event offers more chances than ever for those interested in enhancing their careers or giving back to the community via volunteering, Ms Hockham said.
“In the current climate, one of the best ways for jobseekers to boost their CVs and gain valuable experience is by volunteering, no matter what sector they want to enter into,” she said.
“In addition to the paid for positions on offer, last year more than 70% of the exhibitors at forum3 were looking for people to fill essential volunteer roles within their organisations. And even more are expected this year.”
About forum3
Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2010, forum3 is the leading annual recruitment event for the UK’s Third Sector. It attracts more than 10,000 visitors from the full spectrum of the not-for-profit sector including 100 top charities such as Cancer Research UK, Action for Children and Macmillan Cancer Support.
forum3 started in 2001 as a recruitment event for the charity and not-for-profit sector and has grown into one of the most high-profile network forums in the country. In addition to the event, forum3 now also has a dedicated charity jobs board, transforming forum3 into a fully integrated charity recruitment resource.
forum3 enables charities to network with their peers and identify the most talented and dynamic candidates to join their organisations. It gives job seekers one of the most comprehensive and varied resources for Third Sector employment, whether for part-time voluntary work, longer careers or just an opportunity to create personal connections and debate the latest issues.
To find out more, please visit http://www.forum3.co.uk