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Equipping Young People for the World of Work
Yolanda Rugg CEOHertfordshire Chamber of
Commerce
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About the Chamber• Accredited by the British Chamber of
Commerce • Over 2000 members in our Chamber
network• Education Business Links Team –
Delivering county-wide work experience• International Trade, Events, Membership
team • Office locations in Hatfield , Dacorum
and Broxbourne
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Herts Chamber Forums • Construction and Property • Tourism and Leisure• Creative Industries • Engineering /Manufacturing• HR forum• Exporters• Environmental
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Herts Limited Top 200 – sector breakdown
Grant Thornton Nov 2013 Report
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What do businesses need?
• Herts knowledge based sectors from electronics, science, engineering -too few graduates in physics and engineering to fill current jobs and meet future skills gap needs
• Renewed emphasis on vocational education
• Re-focus on STEM subjects
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Astrium response• Signed up to 5% club
– 5% of workforce to be apprentice, graduates and interns within next 5 years
• Created STEM ambassadors to engage with schools, colleges and universities
• Developing bespoke work experience model– offering one day each week for a term– offering a broader experience of different
activities
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MBDA response• Their challenge
– a third of workforce will retire in next ten years,
• 20 years + developed World Class Centre of Excellence
• Over 50 apprentices in annual intake• Year 2 apprentices recruit at careers
fairs• Running level 4 higher apprenticeships• Sponsor annual robotics competition
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Imagination Technology• No 3 in world for IP semi
conductors and digital processors • Queens Award for Enterprise winner• 100 graduates a year now • Launched inter-schools App
competition 2012 with HCC– Minimal response from schools – The few schools who entered produced
very impressive proposals
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Soft skills are Important!• How a student presents themselves to a
potential employer is so important• Enthusiasm and willingness to learn• Confidence in their achievements and
abilities • Timekeeping not clock watching!• Positive style in written and verbal
communications• It’s ok to ask questions?• Language skills and knowledge of cultures
and etiquette - globalisation
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Employer Feedback• Young people undersell themselves at
interview• CV’s do not highlight the capabilities of young
people, and often lack thought and creativity• Some young people are unaware of what local
organisations do and what resources they need
• Young people lack work-ready skills• Lack of response to unskilled jobs from local
pool
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Herts 1125 Young Peoples’ Manifesto 2013-14
The top 3 issues young people voted for…•Priority 1
– Increase opportunities for apprenticeships in Herts
•Priority 2– A legacy for the Olympics and Paralympics
for young people in Hertfordshire•Priority 3
– Work for discounted leisure, sporting and cultural activities for young people
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Why Students Need To Engage In Work Related
Activity• A good work experience can inspire a
student to raise their level of academic achievement
• Better preparation and understanding of the workplace can reduce the number of students who become NEETS.
• ‘Real’ experiences to enhance future CVs• Provides an understanding of the working
environment and the qualifications, skills and qualities sought by employers.
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Opportunities to Engage with Employers
• Work experience including ‘bespoke’ placements linked to sector or qualification such as BTEC
• CV of Interview workshops• Business speakers or mentors• Employer visits or site visits• Work related projects• Enterprise Activities – Industry led or
Young Enterprise /Young Chamber
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What If?• All Pupils 8-13years had a Personal Career
online plan• Local student network shared ideas and job
research• Parents supported realistic ambition• Schools could deliver review in confidence
between student and IAG• Links to curriculum offering independent
learning• Collaboration between IAG’s for local area
impact
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Young Chamber -How it works
• Young Chamber Council (YCC) is elected• Students assigned different roles as
council members• The council is responsible for planning
events each term• Supported by a Business Coordinator• Co-ordinator matches up with the relevant
business for chosen events• YCC meet fortnightly with Co-ordinator
to plan and organise events or activities
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Young Chamber Outcomes
• 250 Young Chamber Councils across the UK
• 15,000 students involved in organising enterprise events
• 250,000 students across year groups involved in enterprise events
• 7,000 businesses involved in enterprise activity (average 3x per event)
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Young Chamber UK Matrix 5
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Young Chamber
Top Jobs in Area
Student network
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For further information about the work of the Herts. Chamber please
contact [email protected]