Business West, the region’s largest business organisation, has welcomed an ambitious plan that will put thousands of young people across the country directly in touch with local businesses to improve the quality of careers advice they receive.
Under the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) ‘Your Future’ initiative, businesses will link up with schools, colleges and training providers to improve young people’s prospects for a successful career.
Some 250 career events will be staged across England, giving 70,000 young people access to potential employers and showcasing the range of career options open to them. 
The ‘Your Future’ programme, which is supported by the Skills Funding Agency, starts at the end of September to coincide with the new academic term and will run until next March.
Phil Smith, pictured, managing director of Business West - which runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol Initiative - said: “This announcement is a massive step forward in tackling a problem that is hurting firms day in day out. Businesses can only perform as well as the people that start, run and work in them and we need a quality pipeline of work-ready young talent.
“Young unemployment remains stubbornly high and way above pre-recessional levels, but it still seems to be somewhat under the radar. This national programme will put the issue at the front of people’s minds and make a real difference to both young people and businesses.
“Here in the South West we constantly hear cries from local firms about skills shortages, with our latest local business survey finding that 62% of firms that recruited found difficulties finding suitably skilled staff. Research last year also told us that a low percentage of businesses believe that school and college leavers are well prepared for work. The issue is clear to see, we need to strengthen the link between business and education to tackle this fundamental weakness in the economy.”
For information on ‘Your Future’ events in the South West, contact Phil Bridgeman in the Business West membership team on phil.bridgeman@businesswest.co.uk or 01275 370807
