Record number of attendees at Xplore your Future TY Skills Expo

A record number of Transition Year students from 22 Fingal schools filled The Helix as the Xplore Your Future TY Skills Expo returned for its third year, helping them discover sectors and opportunities that may suit them.

Hosted by Fingal County Council in collaboration with Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin Regional Skills Forum (DRSF), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research Innovation and Science, Solas, DDLETB and City of Dublin FET, the free event is designed to help students make informed decisions about their futures through practical insights, lets them explore diverse career paths and meet young people already working and studying in those fields.

As the only event of its kind run by a local authority in Ireland, Xplore Your Future brings hands-on demos, peer-to-peer insights, and practical guidance together under one roof—opening doors to options in STEM, creative industries, public service, trades, and more.

The event has gone from strength to strength and this year 2,557 students from 22 schools were in attendance. During the event, students had the opportunity to interact with exhibitors from different fields, ask questions, gain insight into careers in that sector and get valuable advice to help shape their future prospects. The 2025 edition of the Expo featured over 70 exhibitors across various fields including Health & Beauty, Sport, Transport and Logistics, Construction, Technology, Local Government, Creative Arts & Media, Food, and Hospitality.

Exhibitors this year included, among others: DDLETB (Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board), CDVEC (City of Dublin Education and Training Board), National Ambulance Service, Dublin Fire Brigade, An Garda Síochána, 1233d.ie, Irish Air Corps & Irish Defence Forces, Irish Rail, TU Dublin (Technological University Dublin), National Apprenticeships Office, Amazon, and Knockmitten Esports Community Hub)

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary said: “Xplore opens so many doors for young people that can help set them on the path towards their dream job. Whether you want to be a firefighter, a soldier, or an electrician, there’s something for everyone.  Events like these are vital in helping our students make informed decisions about their futures and it’s fantastic to see such a huge number of pupils from across the county attending. It demonstrates Fingal’s commitment to setting our young people up for success.”

The event is run as part of the Future Fingal: Fingal Skills Strategy and the European Project SKYLA. The new Strategy establishes an ambitious shared vision to ensure that Fingal has a pipeline of talent with the skills required to meet the demands of industry and business today, and to anticipate the challenges of tomorrow.

John Quinlivan, Director for Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Cultural Development at Fingal County Council added: “We are delighted to have welcomed a record 2,557 students from 22 schools to the Helix this year. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with students experiencing and immersing themselves in various different sectors of society. This event underscores our commitment to working in collaboration with stakeholders as part of the Fingal Skills Strategy and our dedication to empowering the next generation.”