|  YOUNG CHAMBER HOME  |  CONTACT US  |

Our schools have exciting, innovative and creative young people looking for real life business expertise. Helping you and helping them at the same time. The Young Chamber are continually developing a consortium of businesses who are happy to offer assistance with the schools in any of the future projects, this could be anything from a telephone conversation with a teacher, to inviting a selected group of students from the schools to your business for a 'Behind the scenes' tour. Joining the consortium will not always guarantee that you can help and advance notice will always be given for any events that you may be requested to partake in. It is worthwhile to both the young people of today and businesses and should offer a real benefit to all involved. For more information, please contact Felicity Copp at YoungChamber@hwchamber.co.uk or on 0845 641 1500

• Employers can help shape and influence the quality and aptitude of their future workforce.
• They can influence career choice.
• Companies can enhance their reputation and status within the wider community.
• Employers' involvement and time commitment can be very flexible.
• They can improve brand recognition and use the positive PR opportunities.
• There can be immense enjoyment working with young people.
• Working with schools can represent personal development opportunities for employees at all levels.

Today's students are the workforce of the future and we hope that the Young Chamber will help businesses recognise the vital role that they can play in ensuring students are fully equipped with the necessary skills and attributes to make a successful transition from education to work. Young Chamber is part of the government's enterprise education strategy which encourages greater enterprise capability among young people in education and requires them to 'be creative and innovative, to take risks and manage them, and to do so with determination and drive'. Working with the National Education Business Partnership Network and other established providers, Young Chamber adds value to existing programmes available for students and employers to work and learn from each other.

It's a simple idea that aims to give young people aged 11 - 19 a 'voice' in the process of business engagement so they have a greater understanding of the workplace, enterprise and future employment opportunities. It is inclusive in nature and is designed to appeal to students of all abilities. Young Chamber does this by bringing together young people with businesses in their locality through the mechanism of local Chambers of Commerce and the membership and networks they foster. Local businesses work with these students to help provide a greater understanding of the workplace and of employment opportunities. Mind sets and attitudes can be understood and influenced positively. The outcomes can benefit both business and students...and the local community too.

The Young Chamber Council, with the support of their local Chamber of Commerce, will develop a programme of events, enterprise projects and activities. These can be very wide ranging and should build on skills and experience of local employers. The activities may be delivered directly by local business volunteers through the Chamber or in partnership with the Chamber and other stakeholders. All of these experiences will help shape young people's thinking; it may reinforce some attitudes and cause other views and preconceived ideas to be changed.