HUNDREDS of workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the downturn in the oil and gas industry turned up to Aberdeen’s fifth major jobs event searching for new employment opportunities.

Nearly 100 businesses from the north-east attended the employment and support event at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, hosted by Skills Development Scotland.

Organisers said there were hundreds of jobs on offer for the 800 people at the event as well as training opportunities and support to help them back into work.

Led by the Energy Jobs Taskforce and Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (Pace), which includes private and public sector partners, the event intends to help individuals realise their broad skill set by introducing them to employers from a variety of sectors and providing them with support to plan their future career.

Calum MacLean, national Pace manager said: “Previous events of this sort have been greatly valued by employers and job seekers and I am delighted that once again we are bringing together hundreds of people with dozens of businesses and other agencies who can help them during these difficult times.

“The downturn in the oil and gas industry hasn’t just affected those in engineering but across the full span of that industry, be it finance, IT, marketing or admin. There are lots of highly skilled and motivated people out there looking for the chance to take the next step in their careers, and we know that there are businesses looking for workers.”