The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has announced its support for an increase in the mandatory school-leaving age.

Following the government's recent proposal to increase the minimum age until which teenagers must stay in full-time education or training, the BCC believes it to be a beneficial change that will help employers gain staff with the necessary skills.

"We support proposals to raise the age to which young people must be in compulsory education or training," said David Frost, director general of the BCC.

"It is imperative that we increase skills levels in our society if we are to remain a competitive economy in the face of continuing globalisation," he added.

According to recent government statistics, 76.2 per cent of teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 are in training programmes or full-time education.