Equipping Young People for the
World of Work
Yolanda Rugg CEO
Hertfordshire 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
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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
Student network
Top Jobs in Area
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For further information about the work of the
Herts. Chamber please contact
jillcoggins@hertschamber.com
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