Chambers of Commerce across the country, including Norfolk Chamber, 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.
Norfolk Chamber has 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.
Chambers involved in the Your Future events include Black Country, Birmingham, Business West, Barnsley & Rotherham, Cornwall, Coventry & Warwickshire, Cumbria, Devon, Doncaster, East Midlands, East Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Hereford & Worcester, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Hull & Humber, Isle of Wight, Kent Invicta, Lincolnshire, Liverpool and Sefton, North & Western Lancashire, Norfolk, St Helens Chamber, Sheffield, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, South Cheshire, Sussex, Suffolk, West and North Yorkshire and Wirral.
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.
Caroline Williams, Chief Executive of Norfolk Chamber said:
“The Your Future events help raise the profile of apprenticeships, which are of benefit to businesses, individuals and the whole UK economy.
“The recently highlighted challenge of promoting apprenticeships in schools is an issue that the Noroflk Chamber and other Chambers within the UK network are 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 Chambers, 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 will continue to help local businesses connect with education and training providers, to raise the visibility of apprenticeships and address the skills gap across the country.”
