Birkenhead maritime and engineering jobs fair next week 2026

Key Points

• There will be over 20 employers, trainers, and other organisations that will attend the free Maritime & Engineering Jobs Fair, taking place in Birkenhead on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
• This event will run from 11.30am to 2pm at The Pyramids Shopping Centre, across from River Island, and a pre-bookable Quiet Hour is available from 10.30am to 11.30am.
• It has been organised by Wirral Council, in conjunction with Mersey Maritime, as part of a series of jobs fairs that are funded by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
• Some of the confirmed exhibitors are Bibby Marine, Briggs Marine, British Army, Balaena Birkenhead (previously Cammell Laird), Denholm Industrial, Mersey Ferries, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Stena Line, Survitec, Teledyne, Marine Specialised Technology Ltd, Star Engineering Ltd, OWS Engineering, and The Sea King Group, along with Wirral Met College and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
• The event is open to people of all age groups and different backgrounds, offering a chance to find out about job opportunities, apprenticeships, training programmes, and other career paths in the field of maritime and engineering.

Birkenhead (Liverpool standard) September 14, 2026 – A dedicated Maritime & Engineering Jobs Fair returns to Birkenhead next week, offering residents direct access to more than 20 employers and training providers at The Pyramids Shopping Centre on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

What is the Birkenhead maritime and engineering jobs fair?

The Maritime & Engineering Jobs Fair is a free, drop-in recruitment and careers event focused on two of the Liverpool City Region’s key growth sectors: maritime and engineering. It is being held at The Pyramids Shopping Centre in Birkenhead from 11.30am to 2pm, with a pre-bookable Quiet Hour from 10.30am to 11.30am for attendees who prefer a calmer environment.

As reported by the Wirral Globe, the event is organised by Wirral Council in partnership with Mersey Maritime and forms part of the council’s wider jobs fair programme. The programme is funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Who is attending the Birkenhead jobs fair?

More than 20 employers, training providers and support organisations from across the maritime and engineering sectors are confirmed to attend.

As reported by a journalist for Wirral Today, confirmed employers include Bibby Marine, Briggs Marine, the British Army, Balaena Birkenhead (formerly Cammell Laird), Denholm Industrial and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Wirral Met College and Mersey Maritime will also be present with information on training opportunities.

The Wirral Globe listed additional exhibitors, including Mersey Ferries, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Stena Line, Survitec, Teledyne, Marine Specialised Technology Ltd, Star Engineering Ltd, OWS Engineering and The Sea King Group.

What opportunities will be available at the fair?

Residents will be able to explore vacancies, apprenticeships and career pathways in the maritime and engineering sectors. Visitors can speak directly with employers about current and upcoming vacancies, apprenticeships and future recruitment plans.

Careers advice will also be available from training providers and support organisations. The fair is open to everyone, including school leavers, those seeking apprenticeships, individuals considering a career change, people returning to work, or those with transferable skills from other sectors.

How can people attend the Birkenhead maritime and engineering jobs fair?

The event is free and open to everyone of all ages and educational backgrounds. Residents can register in advance or simply drop in on the day.

A pre-bookable Quiet Hour is available between 10.30am and 11.30am for those who prefer a calmer environment. Appointments for the Quiet Hour can be booked by emailing economicgrowthservice@wirral.gov.uk.

The fair will take place opposite River Island inside The Pyramids Shopping Centre.

How many people have attended previous Wirral jobs fairs?

So far, around 4,600 residents have attended previous events in the council’s jobs fair programme, meeting more than 250 employers and training providers. Surveys show that people have gone on to secure hundreds of interviews, training course enrolments, and job starts.

What have council leaders said about the Birkenhead jobs fair?

Councillor Mark Skillicorn, chair of Wirral Council’s economy, regeneration and housing committee, said:

“Wirral and wider Liverpool City Region has a proud maritime heritage and a world-class engineering sector that continues to create exciting opportunities for local people while also playing a vital role in our economy.”

He added:

“From global manufacturers and marine operators to innovative engineering firms, employers across the sector are looking for talented people to help shape the future.”

“This jobs fair is a fantastic opportunity for residents to meet employers directly, find out about current and future opportunities, and discover where a career in these sectors could take them,” Councillor Skillicorn said.

Background to the Birkenhead maritime and engineering jobs fair development

The Birkenhead Maritime & Engineering Jobs Fair sits within a wider council-led initiative to connect local residents with employment and training opportunities in priority sectors. The event is part of Wirral Council’s jobs fair programme, which is funded by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Wirral and the wider Liverpool City Region have long been associated with maritime industries, from ferry operations and port logistics to shipbuilding and marine engineering. Balaena Birkenhead, formerly Cammell Laird, remains a significant local employer in ship repair and conversion, while companies such as Bibby Marine, Briggs Marine and Mersey Ferries operate across the region’s waterways.

Engineering firms including Star Engineering Ltd, OWS Engineering and Denholm Industrial represent the broader industrial base that supports maritime operations, defence and infrastructure projects. Training providers such as Wirral Met College and sector bodies like Mersey Maritime provide pathways into these industries through apprenticeships, further education and specialist training.

Previous jobs fairs in the programme have collectively attracted around 4,600 residents and more than 250 employers and training providers, with survey data indicating hundreds of interviews, course enrolments and job starts. The inclusion of a Quiet Hour reflects an effort to make the event accessible to neurodivergent attendees or those who may find busy environments challenging.

Prediction: how could this development affect jobseekers and the local economy?

For jobseekers in Wirral and the wider Liverpool City Region, the return of a sector-specific jobs fair focused on maritime and engineering is likely to increase awareness of local opportunities and reduce barriers to entry. Direct access to more than 20 employers in one location can shorten the recruitment cycle for candidates, particularly school leavers, career changers and people returning to work who may not have established networks in these industries.

For employers, the event offers a concentrated pool of local talent, potentially lowering recruitment costs and improving retention by hiring from the immediate labour market. Training providers and colleges attending the fair can align their course offerings more closely with employer demand, supporting skills development in areas such as marine operations, engineering maintenance and technical trades.

At a local economy level, sustained recruitment into maritime and engineering roles can reinforce Wirral’s position within the Liverpool City Region’s industrial strategy, supporting productivity in port-related activity, defence supply chains and advanced manufacturing. If the pattern from previous fairs continues with hundreds of interviews and job starts—the event could contribute to reduced unemployment and underemployment in the borough, particularly among younger residents and those seeking skilled technical roles.