Chambers support over 15,000 young people explore apprenticeships

Chambers of Commerce across the country are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week with a range of events, having already supported over 15,000 young people so far through Your Future Careers Fairs.

Chambers of Commerce across England have been involved with delivering Your Future events, which are designed to raise awareness of the career options available to young people, including apprenticeships, and more than 16,500 14-24 year olds have participated nationally so far.

Across the country, an extra 21 events are planned during National Apprenticeship Week, which are expected to attract around 8,000 students.

In the Sheffield City Region, the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber is marking the week with two Your Future events, the first at Barnsley College today and Rotherham College of Arts and Technology tomorrow. This follows the massive LEAF Careers Event at Magna in November and Dearne Valley College Careers Fair in January.

The scheme works with local businesses to help bridge the gap between the worlds of education and work, to highlight the options available to students, as well as the skills needed to enter the workplace. So far, around 500 national businesses have participated in the scheme through Chambers of Commerce.

Dominic Beck of the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said:

“The Your Future Careers Fairs taking place this week both in Barnsley and Rotherham, with Barnsley College and Rotherham College helping to raise the profile of apprenticeships, which are of benefit to businesses and individuals, right across our region.

“The recently highlighted challenge of promoting apprenticeships in schools is an issue that the Chamber is tackling, through the Your Future events and by working closely with the Skills Funding Agency, to highlight the breadth of career options available through apprenticeships.

“Through the Chamber, local firms can link up with schools, highlight career opportunities, and dispel the myth that the only route to success is a university degree. We have a number of other projects which underpin this, including our Young Chamber project, working with schools to enhance the employability skills of the our future workforce.”