Connecting Classrooms to Careers Across the North West & North Wales
The West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce has partnered with leading North Wales educational charity Xplore! Science Discovery Centre to launch Young Chamber – Skills Share: an innovative programme connecting businesses directly with local schools.
Young Chamber is the Chamber’s dedicated youth engagement initiative, created to strengthen links between employers and education across the region. Through structured activity, employer insight and collaborative projects, Young Chamber provides meaningful opportunities for young people to understand career pathways while enabling businesses to play an active role in shaping the future workforce. The programme supports the Chamber’s wider commitment to addressing regional skills challenges and building a sustainable talent pipeline.
Designed by Maria Davison, Skills & Policy Director at the Chamber, and Katie Williams, Business Development Officer at Xplore!, the initiative bridges the gap between education and industry at a time when addressing the future STEM skills pipeline has never been more critical.
Xplore! already delivers curriculum-linked STEM workshops both at its science centre and directly within schools, ensuring accessibility for those unable to travel due to rising transport costs. These highly interactive sessions develop not only scientific understanding but also problem-solving, teamwork and communication skills.
The unique power of Young Chamber – Skills Share lies in its partnership model.
Each school workshop combines:
- A hands-on STEM session delivered by Xplore!’s education specialists
• A follow-up industry insight session led by a Chamber member
By connecting classroom learning to real-world application, students gain a tangible understanding of career pathways, industry expectations, and the relevance of their education.
Impact for Students
- Greater awareness of STEM careers
• Increased aspiration and confidence
• Stronger understanding of how classroom learning translates to employment
Impact for Businesses
- Meaningful engagement with future talent
• Contribution to reducing the regional STEM skills gap
• Visible commitment to social value and community investment
The pilot session, delivered in January at Ysgol Bryn Alyn in partnership with Acuitas Insights, demonstrated the model in action. Year 7 students participated in Xplore!’s “Wheels in Motion” workshop before hearing directly from industry about engineering career pathways. Engagement levels were exceptional — including from students typically less engaged in STEM subjects.
The response from both school leaders and business partners confirms the programme’s potential to scale.
Investment Opportunity
The Young Chamber team is now seeking investment to expand delivery across the North West and North Wales.
Support is invited from:
- Chamber members able to commit a modest sponsorship contribution
• Businesses willing to donate one hour of industry insight per session
• Strategic partners interested in scaling a regional skills solution
With the right backing, Young Chamber – Skills Share can become a flagship regional model for employer-led education engagement.
To discuss sponsorship or partnership opportunities, please contact Maria Davison or Katie Williams at youngchamber@wcnwchamber.org.uk.
