The Niagara Employment Crawl (NEC) — organized by Brock University, Niagara College and the Niagara Region — is now accepting participants for this year's Nov. 3 event.

There’s a lot going on in Niagara. And more opportunity than you think.

The Niagara Employment Crawl (NEC) — organized by Brock University, Niagara College and the Niagara Region — is now accepting participants for this year’s Nov. 3 event.

Using the tagline “In your NEC of the Woods,” the guided bus tours are intended to attract, retain and engage professionals as well as Brock and Niagara students by providing an interesting look at employment opportunities in Niagara. This year, approximately 100 students will be participating in the one-day event, visiting six employers located throughout Niagara.

The Niagara Employment Crawl was introduced in April 2013. The NEC was born out of a conversation at the Niagara Economic Summit where, in a small breakout group, local talent acquisition leaders discussed the success of the Hamilton Employment Crawl (HEC). It was decided to bring this innovative concept to Niagara.

Building upon last year’s success, the tour will showcase the geographic beauty and infrastructure of the region, in addition to a cross-section of potential career opportunities.

“We believe that professionals and students who know more about job possibilities, employers, and general information about the region, will be more inclined to stay in Niagara,” said Cara Boese, Brock’s manager of talent acquisition. “The 2013 NEC results showed that participants became much more aware of what Niagara had to offer.”

Local politicians and civic leaders will be greeting bus “crawlers” as well as sending them on their way from the pre-event at the Pen Centre at 8.30 a.m.

The participants will board one of two buses and spend the day visiting the following Niagara businesses: Hatch, Airbus Helicopters, Meridian Credit Union, Imbivitive Technologies, Vintage Hotels and One Touch Direct.

The sponsors include: Brock University, NextNiagara, Niagara Region, Niagara College, Niagara Workforce Planning Board, Leadership Niagara, Human Resources Professionals Association Niagara Chapter and Target.

Click here to register for the event.