Avonbourne School, a Business and Enterprise College in Bournemouth, has been selected as one of only 51 schools in the country to take part in a major new national initiative - Young Chamber. Working with Dorset Business, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Avonbourne’s Young Chamber will give the pupils a greater understanding of, and involvement with, the world of business and enterprise.

Young Chamber creates a structure and framework that puts students in the driving seat and along with support from their teachers and local Chamber, ensures they have a ‘voice’ to say how they feel on issues that affect their local economic environment.  They are also actively involved in setting up a Young Chamber in their School that will help the school link the students’ interests with the world of work.

Young Chamber, supported by the Chancellor Gordon Brown in this year’s budget report, builds on existing programmes and networks available for students and employers to work and learn from each other, by partnering schools with local businesses via their local chambers of commerce membership and associated business networks.  Young Chamber is part of the government’s enterprise education strategy, which encourages greater enterprise capability among young people in education and requires them ‘to be creative and innovative, to take risks and manage them, and to do so with determination and drive.’

It creates a new focus for relationships between schools, Chambers and local brokers such as Education Business Partnerships by enabling the local chamber of commerce to collaborate with other providers, and act as the link between schools and the local business community to coordinate and facilitate a wide range of enterprise activities for students.  These might include undertaking research relevant to both students and local business, problem -solving challenges set by the business community, mentoring, interview skills and business simulations.  

"Young Chamber is an excellent opportunity for businesses within the local area to have an impact on the development of pupils at Avonbourne School. Through developing key business and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes it will ensure our pupils are well prepared for the very competitive world of business in the 21st century."

Joe Callender, Student Leadership Co-ordinator, Avonbourne School

“This is a great opportunity for local businesses to get involved with the school and to ensure that young people learn the skills they will require for the workplace”.

Samantha Ambridge, Skills Education & Training Services Co-ordinator, Dorset Business

Avonbourne School are launching their Young Chamber to pupils, parents, staff and members of the local business community with an evening event on 26^th September at AFC Bournemouth.