The Ministry of Social Development hosted the Mondelez International Cadbury Employment Expo on Saturday, aimed at supporting some of the 250 staff at Cadbury workers expected to lose their jobs by the end of the year.
Approximately another 100 staff will finish at the factory in April next year as it is closed down.
Ministry of Social Development regional labour market manager Emma Hamilton was "thrilled" with the number of people who turned up to the expo.
"It’s been brilliant. It’s been so positive."
The expo was also the "first step" in helping people find jobs ahead of a proposed job "pop-up store" anticipated to be open in early February next year.
While Cadbury staff were given first access to the expo, it was opened up to the public in the afternoon.
MSD had a responsibility to help find employment for people who were not working.
Its involvement with the expo was in anticipation of the loss of jobs when the factory closed.
Of the 32 employers at the event, about 14 were from Dunedin with jobs on offer.
Other employers were from the wider Otago region andfrom as far afield as Auckland, Nelson and Australia.
In addition, seven recruitment agencies, three franchise companies, three economic development agencies and seven education training providers attended.
Mondelez International site manager Judith Mair said the expo was organised as part of the company’s dedication to "support" staff affected by the closure.
She was grateful to MSD and the Dunedin City Council for its support and help putting the event together.
She had spoken to five factory employees who had already organised interviews with prospective employers this week.Others had put in applications to other employers.
The expo was part of a wider programme of support by "City Force", a group of representatives from local business, the chamber of commerce and employers’ associations, Inland Revenue and the Dunedin City Council, set up in the wake of news the factory would close.
