Good news for engineering and construction professionals: more career opportunities are opening up across the country. UK firms are reporting strong demand for new engineering and technology staff with over half of employers (53%) currently seeking new recruits (IET survey).

Those looking to take their next step up the career ladder will be able to discover hundreds of vacancies from many of the world's top engineering and construction recruiters at a national event.

The National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition, taking place 22 & 23 April at Birmingham’s NEC, delivers a vast range of career opportunities and advice to both skilled qualified engineering and construction professionals and talented graduates.

Visitors to the free to enter event can meet face to face with industry-leading employers to discuss current job openings, as well as discover more about working with the company from the team themselves.

Major organisations exhibiting include High Speed Two (HS2), British Antarctic Survey, Highways England, Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems, Caribbean East Atlantic Company, QinetiQ and GE. Many of these will deliver free presentations offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their current projects and career opportunities.

Visitors to the National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition, in association with the Engineering Council, can also take advantage of free expert advice and employment workshops designed to provide a career boost for highly experienced professionals as well as those just setting out on their career path.

For a helping hand on progressing onto the next career stage, experts at the Careers Advice Lounge will offer personalised one-to-one guidance. At the Interview Clinic, visitors will come away with an effective interview preparation check list as well as a refresher on how to tackle common interview questions.

Engineering and construction professionals can meet with representatives from the Engineering Council and key professional engineering institutions at the Professional Development Hub for advice on the benefits of professional registration.

The Women in Engineering Forum, supported by the Women's Engineering Society, takes place on the first day of the show, offering women at all stages of their career the platform to share experiences, network with fellow female engineers and learn about exciting new developments within the industry.

Students from across the UK are invited to take part in the Engineering Challenge, sponsored by Ultra Electronics Sonar Systems. This popular feature enables university teams to test their know-how, boost their CV and demonstrate technical knowledge and team working in front of recruiters.

John Hancock, Managing Director of Venture Marketing Group, organisers of the National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition, explains: “This show has bred some real success stories with visitors meeting and then winning jobs with engineering and construction organisations. It has also played a major part in introducing visitors to roles they may not have previously considered. Meeting face to face with exhibitors delivers a real insight into what opportunities they have to offer and what they are looking for in an ideal applicant.”

A full list of recruiters, further information on features and details about parking and travel subsidies for full time students are available at www.engineerjobs.co.uk.

The National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition, supported by The Telegraph, takes place 22 & 23 April at Birmingham’s NEC. For further details see www.engineerjobs.co.uk/engineering-exhibitions.