Following on from a successful pilot with Kirkbie Kendal School, there are now a further three Young Chambers around the county – Barrow Young Chamber (made up of Thorncliffe, Parkview and Alfred Barrow School), Richard Rose Academies in Carlisle and West Lakes Academy in Egremont.

Schools are often criticised for churning out young people who are not suited to employers needs – and young people for their attitudes and skills.  Young Chamber is all about helping and encouraging young people aged 14-19 years to become more entrepreneurial, to understand business, develop appropriate skills and see the opportunities open to them in the future.

Young Chamber puts students in touch with real employers, giving them a voice and say in the way in which students and the business community interact with each other.  The day-to-day management of a school’s Young Chamber is undertaken by students, via an elected Young Chamber School Council.

The British Chambers of Commerce supports all school Young Chambers.  “Young Chamber is a pioneering development: one that is a leading example of how businesses and young people can work together to everyone’s benefit.  An enterprising mindset – a ‘can-do’ attitude – and an interest in business are essential for every young person and Young Chamber is delivering this.  As businesses, we recognise that young people are our future employees, so we have a responsibility and an interest in working with them locally, showing them the great opportunities available in their own communities and helping them to develop the skills they will need in the workplace.  Young Chamber is ideally positioned to do this and provides us all with an inspiring example of relevant, engaging and locally-based enterprise education,” says David Frost, director general, British Chambers of Commerce.

Young Chamber allows students to become involved in a whole range of activities – click here to find out what’s been happening at Barrow Young Chamber.