A careers fair is on course to welcome 5,000 people through its the doors this week – the biggest audience in its history.

KentChoices Live opened to school children on Wednesday and its due to welcome members of the general public to the Maidstone Exhibition Hall at Kent Showground, Detling, today.

The annual employment fair is designed to help young and old find a career and get into work.

The free entry event, which is staged by Kent County and Medway Council along with the KM Group, sees a range of people from all backgrounds and professions offer advice on leaving school, going to university or college among other options.

Celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager, who was promoting apprenticeships within her cookery school, said: “It’s most important to encourage people to get into the food industry and it’s my passion to enable young people into the cooking profession.”

Viscount De L’Isle, the Queen’s representative in the county, was shown around the exhibition.

Taking place National Apprenticeship Week, it seemed only fitting there were businesses offering help and advice too.

Early intervention manager for KCC, Mike Rayner, said: “It’s gone very well, we’ve had good feedback.

“We hold this event to make sure young people understand there are options available to them when they leave school.”

More than 100 stalls were at the exhibition, which meant organisers had to turn exhibitors away this year due to a lack of space.

KM Group managing director Richard Elliot, who was part of the VIP tour, said: “When you think about it, so many people are going to need help working in businesses, an event like this gives them a great insight to the profession they might want to go into.”

Among other stalls the Royal Army and Navy were both on hand to offer experience with simulators and fun challenges.

Neil Lakeland, who is director of communications and marketing at careers charity CXK, said: “We are the people who give advice and guidance for those who might not know where to start their career or what to do to start it.

“We’re really that first port of call. We’re able to help people in different ways as a charity.”

The KM team were around to help youngsters have a go at creating their own music with kmfm presenters Rob Wills and Glen Scott putting in an appearance.

Former KM Group business editor Trevor Sturgess, a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent and spokesman for Viscount De L’Isle, said: “It is very important to plant that first seed with people, now there is a great opportunity to learn the skills to set up your own business.”