Young Chamber – Bridging the Gap Between Business and Education
Young Chamber is an opportunity for your organisation to get involved in preparing young people for the future and help develop their skills and knowledge of the workplace. Even the smallest contribution can make a big difference.
Young Chamber helps London schools better equip students for the world of work, by connecting them to their local business community. With the support of the British Chambers of Commerce and a national network of regional Chambers, Young Chamber offers members a simple solution to enriching the knowledge and experience of young people and employees alike.
The BCC’s latest Business and Education survey of more than 3,500 businesses and education providers found that 88 per cent of firms consider school leavers to be unprepared for the workplace, lacking in particular basic employability skills such as communication skills, resilience and insight into how to act appropriately in the workplace. We think the business community is best placed to work with schools to deliver these skills.
London schools should be congratulated on their improvement in recent years, but there are still groups of children in London who underperform. Young Chamber will provide invaluable real life business experiences for young people, whatever their socio-economic background or academic achievements and regardless of whether they will head into higher education or go straight into the workplace.
Activities could include:
- Business talks from local employers
- Networking events
- Businesses attending school careers fairs
- Visits to local businesses for students and teachers
- Support recruiting business governors
- PR opportunities
- Mock interviews and CV workshops
Could your business help to bridge the gap between business and eduction? British Chambers of Commerce are looking for interest from businesses of all sizes and from any sector. They would also like to hear from schools who might want to become involved.
For more information, please contact Dr Helen Gray, Schools Project Consultant T: +44 (0)7967 459015 E:hgray@londonchamber.co.uk
