Students Inspired by Heritage Careers

Expo Ertach Kernow / Cornish Heritage Expo

A Celebration of Cornish Heritage and Careers

On Friday 3rd October, Pendennis Castle in Falmouth hosted the Expo Ertach Kernow – a Cornish Heritage Expo designed to inspire young people and the wider public about the rich career opportunities within the heritage sector.

Organised by the English Heritage Team, the event welcomed 203 students from eight different educational settings, including mainstream schools, colleges, and alternative education providers. The aim was to showcase the diversity of roles in heritage and conservation, from traditional crafts to cutting-edge technologies.

Gavin’s Role in the Event

Please meet Gavin Beresford, Senior Business Support Process Officer in the Employment and Enterprise Team. Gavin plays a key role behind the scenes, ensuring the smooth running of processes and finance across the team — and at events like the Cornish Heritage Expo, he’s often the one making sure everything comes together seamlessly.

As Senior Business Support Process Officer, Gavin supported the event from planning to delivery. He joined a pre-event site tour with Jo Ledger (Project Lead) to finalise logistics, ordered resources, and prepared welcome packs for teachers. On the day, he briefed stallholders on student engagement, distributed stickers for meaningful interactions, and managed school registration and safety protocols. Gavin also acted as a key contact for the English Heritage and Pendennis Castle teams, ensuring smooth operations throughout the day.

What Happened on the Day

The event featured around 50 exhibitors, including historical architects, blacksmiths, stone masons, and conservationists. Students were captivated by live demonstrations of traditional skills and tools that have been used for generations. They also explored modern innovations like robotic dogs, ultrasound, and sonar mapping technologies used to survey historical sites.

Student Impact and Feedback

There was a vibrant buzz in the main marquee, with students engaging deeply with exhibitors. Many asked insightful questions and expressed surprise at the range of careers available in the heritage sector. One student remarked how amazed they were by the integration of technology in preserving history.

"An amazing event that inspired many pupils." - Gavin Beresford

Looking Ahead

The Expo highlighted the importance of preserving Cornwall’s unique identity and passing down traditional skills to future generations. It also opened students’ eyes to exciting career paths they may not have considered before.

Kernow Heritage Event

Created by Gavin Beresford – Senior Business Support Process Officer