Young Chamber began as a means of providing young people with a direct line to businesses and employers in their area, something schools have consistently failed to achieve.

Using the UK's powerful chamber of commerce networks, this simple idea of providing schools with a single point of business contact has met with a favourable response in the initial pilot schemes.

Chamber members who are not tapping into the local youth employment market are now being made aware of the project and in turn can listen to what young people have to offer as well as putting their own skills needs forward.

There has been invaluable support from local business people and now all accredited chambers of commerce including Thames Gateway (Kent) Chamber are signed up to Young Chamber.

The unique concept with its network of business links attracted funding from the DCSF in 2007 allowing a pilot of 51 Young Chambers to get under way. It is estimated that this initiative alone is benefitting over 75,000 young people.

Alongside this, a further 50 Young Chambers are being developed by schools outside the initial DCSF funded group. This means that a potential total of some 150,000 young people are engaged in some way shape or form alongside local business.

Employers can provide students with real understanding of the available skills opportunities and this can happen in school, on the employer's premises or on projects and events within the wider community. The time involved may vary from a short input to a project, to a much longer term commitment.

This 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.

Chambers can manage this engagement through their own membership organisations bringing benefits to the businesses themselves by helping prepare tomorrow's workforce in their local area.