Supporting our next generation with Young Chamber of Commerce scheme

Vicky meets... Brad Ainsworth, from Chichester Chamber of Commerce.
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• What is the Young Chamber of Commerce scheme?

Open to 18-29 year-olds, it is a pilot scheme for those in the final years of education and who are looking for what to do as a next step. That might be starting their own business, looking for an apprenticeship or seeking career advice, work experience or mentoring. Ultimately it’s about creating a network environment that these young people can start tapping into. A lot of firms that have apprentices now have somewhere to send them to meet a new peer group.

• Right, let’s have the details – how can people get involved?

Brad AinsworthBrad Ainsworth
Brad Ainsworth
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It doesn’t cost anything to join and at the moment we are running it as a monthly Zoom event. We plan to create a board for the Young Chamber, so it will be run by them, but we’ll also have one of their members sit on the main chamber board too, so they have that umbrella of experience and support. We are looking for interested parties; young people in that 18-29 age range, but also people looking for apprentices. We have a chartered careers advisor too, so we have all three bases covered. If you want direction from a careers perspective then get in touch.

• You gain nothing out of this financially, so what motivates you?

I know how difficult it is for the next generation. I’ve come from a background that has entailed lots of challenges – challenges that I have overcome. If I can offer a platform that helps young people then I will always do it. A significant influence in my life was a young man called Steven Sutton. I attended a talk he gave when he was seventeen. He had cancer, but he raised more than £5million before his death. He believed in making every second count. I have followed that advice ever since. The reward is that you are constantly reminded to use those seconds. I always say to my children that they won’t be on their death bed wishing they had played more PlayStation!

• Is the scheme just for those in the Chichester area?

We have had interest from as far away as Buckinghamshire! At the moment we are welcoming everyone and seeing how it pans out. In time we may use the Chichester scheme as a model for other Chambers.

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• As someone who works in finance, what do you reckon to the future of our economy?

The UK is the sixth largest economy in the world. We came into Covid with a strong record and although it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, we will come out of this. For sure, it will take time to recover and there will be changes, but I am very confident the UK is in a much better position than many other countries. But we need to support our next generation, giving them opportunities and tools for life.

• Where can people find out more?

At www.chichestercci.org.uk or by emailing me: [email protected]

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