MG Rover chief executive Kevin Howe has been made redundant - and is likely to receive about £2,000 in statutory redundancy pay.

Mr Howe, who earned £1.5 million a year in his role at Longbridge, joins the 5,000 MG Rover workers who lost their jobs when the factory went into administration.

Meanwhile, a massive careers fair is being organised in Birmingham to help redundant MG Rover workers in their search for new careers.

About 450 companies and organisations are expected to attend the three-day event at Cannon Hill Park next month.

It is hoped more than 5,000 jobs could be on offer, in addition to advice and guidance on interview techniques and form filling.

Sue Wait, recruitment manager at Birmingham City Council, said the event, on May 11 to May 13, would help many former Rover employees get back into work.

She said: "We are hoping to get a considerable number of people into work or on the right career path.

"A lot of the people who worked at MG Rover have skills which can be transferrable to other companies, while many will want to change their career entirely.

"We want to get as many manufacturing and engineering companies to come along as possible. This is not just aimed at Rover staff, but people who have lost their jobs at Peugeot or have worked in the supply chain."

More than 300 people attended a careers guidance event organised by the council at Bournville College yesterday.

It followed a jobs and careers information fair at Cofton Park in Longbridge last Saturday which attracted 1,200 people who found out about jobs available at the city council and got advice on the council's recruitment and selection processes.

Among the bodies present yesterday were the Strategic Health Authority, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust, North Warwickshire Primary Care Trust, University Hospital Birmingham, Business Link, Job Centre Plus, Kelly's Services and Bournville Police.

Coun Alan Rudge (Con Sutton Vesey), Cabinet member for equality and human resources, said: "We will do as much as we can to ensure that Rover employees get jobs with the council. Our recruitment staff have responded magnificently."

Meanwhile, a recruitment expert said the skills of Rover workers could help fill the skills gaps at other firms.

Jonathan Lee, chairman of Stourbridge-based Jonathan Lee Recruitment, said he was confident other companies would be quick to see the benefit of employing many members of the experienced workforce.

He said: "Many of the skills offered are applicable to other sectors - in product engineering, electronics, quality, or sales and marketing." Mr Lee was speaking after a careers day at Hills-court Conference Centre in Rednal.

He said: "We were inundated with people waiting to talk to one of our consultants and representatives from Visteon and TRW Automotive, two major component suppliers to the automotive industry.

"For those Rover workers who have the skills and are prepared to learn, the future looks positive."