The Brighton i360 will not only be a brilliant place to visit, it will also inspire a future generation of engineers and architects and become an attraction the entire city can be proud of.

Opening may be a year away but the team at the i360 has already started working with local young people on a range of projects and that engagement with the city’s younger population is something the i360 is determined to continue.

Every state school pupil in Brighton and Hove (2017/18 school year) will be treated to a free visit to the i360 with their school once it is open and the attraction’s community liaison officer will soon begin working with schools to put together a range of exciting on-site activities which compliment their curriculum.

And the i360’s work with local young people doesn’t stop there.

Last month, Brighton i360’s chief executive Eleanor Harris was interviewed by young people about working in the tourism industry and what sort of skills employees are looking for in potential recruits.

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It was part of the Brighton Employability Advice and Careers Hut, or BEACH as it is more commonly known – an initiative run by Brighton and Hove City Council, BrightonandHoveJobs.com and local schools. The project has been designed by local secondary school pupils and back in 2013 it won a Brighton and Hove and aims to put young people face to face with local employers.

Eleanor said: “We expect to employ lots of young people at the Brighton i360 when we open next year in entry level customer facing jobs . The tourism industry is a key employer for young people with 39% of employees aged under 30.

“I was happy to be interviewed for BEACH from Love Local Jobs, giving advice on what we’ll be looking for as an employer. We will be hiring energetic, motivated people with great people and communication skills who have already gained some work experience in a customer facing role.

“My advice to young people would be to try to get as much experience as you can as soon as possible whether paid or as an intern. My first job was a Saturday job in a flower shop when I was at school. I worked my way through university with jobs in a shop, as a waitress and at a cinema. All of this experience helped me to get hired by British Airways on their graduate scheme and start on my career ladder in the tourism sector.”

While Eleanor was supporting Beach, i360 sales manager Pippa Atkinson was championing Young Enterprise, the UK’s leading enterprise and financial education charity.

Each year student groups across Brighton and Hove and Lewes form a Young Enterprise company, working with a mentor to get direct experience of the business world. The i360 sponsored the Best Product or Service award and Pippa was thrilled to present Seaford Community College the prize for their beautifully designed mugs.

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Elsewhere, the i360 has agreed to sponsor the Excursion of the Year award at The Argus newspaper’s Youth in Action awards 2015. The awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of youngsters, teachers and support staff.

The Excursion of the Year award looks at innovative ways in which learning has been taken outside of the classroom. This is a cause close to our hearts as we are already looking at ways in which we can make a visit to the i360 a fantastic learning experience.

Later this month, on May 30, the i360 is holding a family friendly event at the construction site on the seafront. It will see the first concrete poured onto the site and Bob the Builder will be on hand with the i30 team and constructions experts to answer any questions.

There will also be a colouring competition and a seafront family treasure hunt.