BCC Statement on Skills and Careers Advice

10th April 2015

Following a number of campaign announcements on skills and careers advice, Dr Adam Marshall, Executive Director of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The career prospects of Britain's young people depend on bridging the gap between the world of education and the world of work.

Universal careers advice would help, but only as part of a much wider engagement between local schools, colleges and businesses that helps young people see the possibilities for dynamic and rewarding careers. "Historically, careers advice has been stale and formulaic. We need to fix that broken model - with constant engagement between local business and schools, a business governor in every school across the UK, and universal experience of the working world too. The current model of a couple of weeks - out of someone's whole time in school - simply doesn't cut it. Young people need meaningful exposure to the world of work. Only then will we have young people leaving school ready for work, and businesses getting access to people with the skills they need to grow. "Chambers of Commerce are already bridging the gap between schools and businesses. We want the next government to work with us to step-change the role that local firms play in schools and colleges, so that the decades-long stand-off between the education sector and employers turns into a mutual commitment to success."