Specialist Services
Young Chamber
We are pleased to be helping to deliver a major new initiative that gives young people aged 14 - 19 a ‘voice’ in the process of business engagement so they have a greater understanding of the workplace, enterprise and future employment opportunities,
Young people bring energy and enthusiasm but also need to gain an understanding of business attitudes and expectations, and yet their views about the world of work are important as they are the workforce of the future. Young Chamber creates a structure and framework which gives students a ‘voice’ in the process of business engagement, helping them to meet their needs and interests whilst at the same time engaging with businesses in a local context. It provides opportunities for even more businesses to help schools and colleges to prepare young people for working life in the global challenge of the 21st century.
Students want to be taken seriously and treated as adults, particularly in regard to their future work. Young Chamber puts them in the driving seat and along with support from their teacher and local Chamber, they will manage much of the process themselves, ensuring they have a ‘voice’ to say how they feel on issues that affect their local economic environment. They will also be actively involved in setting up a Young Chamber in their School which will help the school link the students interests with the world of work.
Young Chamber builds on existing programmes and networks available for students and employers to work and learn from each other, by partnering schools with local businesses via their local chambers of commerce membership and associated business networks.
It creates a new focus for relationships between schools, Chambers and local brokers such as Education Business Partnerships by enabling the local chamber of commerce to collaborate with other providers, and act as the link between schools and the local business community to coordinate and facilitate a wide range of enterprise activities for students. For example, working with a local company to run and manage an event, carry out research relevant to both students and local business needs, undertake problem solving challenges and business simulations.
Employers will also support teachers by providing specialist business advice on topics such as employability and enterprise skills, entrepreneurialism and human resources, which they can use in the classroom.
Dover Grammar School for Boys have taken part in the project for the past school year - videos of their last meeting can be seen below
For more information please contact Sezen Zeki, 01303 270022 or see www.youngchamber.com/channel
