GVA Showcase at Yorkshire Cadet Careers Fair 2026
GVA was proud to attend the Yorkshire Cadet Careers Fair, held at York College & University Centre on Saturday 7 February 2026 to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week. The event brought together Sea Cadets, Army Cadet Force, Air Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force members aged 15½–18, alongside instructors, parents and employers committed to supporting the next generation into meaningful careers.
The fair provided a valuable platform for young people to explore employment pathways, work experience and apprenticeship opportunities beyond secondary education. For GVA, it was an opportunity to showcase the breadth of roles available within land-based industries and to reinforce our ongoing support for the Armed Forces community.
As one of the few organisations allocated both indoor and outdoor exhibition space, we delivered a hands-on, engaging presence throughout the event. Our team demonstrated a new electric panel van fully equipped with electric hand tools, alongside an electric robotic mower, highlighting how innovation and sustainability are shaping the future of vegetation management, ecology and environmental services. These practical demonstrations sparked conversations with cadets about modern career pathways, emerging technologies and the real-world skills required to work safely and responsibly in our sector.
Across the morning, we engaged with cadets, instructors and members of the wider Armed Forces community from across Yorkshire, the Humber and North East Lincolnshire. Discussions focused on apprenticeships, career progression and the transferable life skills cadets develop — teamwork, resilience, leadership and discipline — all of which align strongly with the demands of land-based industries and environmental infrastructure work.
The event also enabled GVA to strengthen relationships within the Armed Forces Covenant network, connect with partner organisations and reinforce our commitment to supporting service personnel, veterans and cadets through employment and skills development opportunities. Supporting pathways into industry is central to our social value approach and our ambition to mature our commitment towards the Gold Covenant Award.
A key moment during the event saw Josh Chilvers present Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) A W Pledger MBE, Deputy Chief Executive of the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association Yorkshire & Humber, with a £500 donation to the Yorkshire Cadet Trust on behalf of GVA. The contribution reflects our ongoing support for initiatives that empower young people and invest in future talent.
“The Yorkshire Cadet Careers Fair was a well-run and engaging event, and this being our second year attending, it was great to see how much it has grown, with increased numbers of cadets and organisations in attendance. It provided an excellent opportunity to interact with cadets, cadet leaders and members of the wider Armed Forces community from across the region.”
Alan Gray – HSQE Manager, GVA
Our involvement in the Yorkshire Cadet Careers Fair directly supports our wider purpose: encouraging people into a rewarding industry that balances safety, environmental stewardship and innovation. By engaging with cadets at an early stage, we can help expand awareness of land-based careers, open doors to apprenticeships and demonstrate how vegetation management, ecology and environmental services contribute to safer infrastructure and a more sustainable future.
At GVA, we believe social value is created through practical action — sharing knowledge, supporting communities and creating pathways into employment. Events like the Yorkshire Cadet Careers Fair allow us to do exactly that: connect, inspire and help shape the next generation of skilled professionals who will care for our landscapes and infrastructure for years to come.
