Haverhill Young Chamber of Commerce

“Our future is in the hands of these young people.”
Neville Reyner CBE DL, President of the British Chambers of Commerce and Chairman of the UK Young Chamber.

Haverhill Young Chamber of Commerce was set up to promote links with business, raise aspirations and employability skills, and bring the youth voice to the fore in local issues in Haverhill.

The Young Chamber comprises student representatives from Haverhill’s two colleges Samuel Ward Academy and Castle Manor Business & Enterprise College both rated ‘outstanding’ in their recent Ofsted inspections.

Over recent years we have seen the work of many enterprising members of the Young Chamber come to fruition and provide a way for greater numbers of their peers to develop the knowledge, skills and aptitudes they will need to be successful in their future.

For example, students recently celebrated the opening of the Castle Manor Young Chamber Bistro.

The Bistro allows them to practice the skills gained on their catering courses by working in a business environment. A proportion of the profits will go back into the Young Chamber to allow it to become self-funded and able to take on new projects in the future.

Haverhill Chamber of Commerce plays an active role in the Young Chamber, and encourages the business community to get involved in their activities.

This year Chamber members have been involved with Castle Manor’s Enterprise Week which involved an Apprentice style competition to find outstanding young entrepreneurs and a Dragon’s Den during which the college went up against other schools in the area to pitch their business ideas to business leaders in Haverhill.

 Young Chamber members met Apprentice Star Claire Young at the Haverhill Chamber of Commerce Business Awards 2011.

 Claire said: "Haverhill's Young Chamber are a real testament to the town. All the students I met were bright, articulate and not shy in coming forward. I have no doubt that the Young Chamber has developed their employability skills and probably helped their confidence because, like The Apprentice experience, you are thrown into 'unknown' situations and have to think on your feet. Keep up the good work!"