National Careers Service for England
In New Challenges, New Chances the government said high-quality information about careers and skills, and independent, professional advice and guidance for people who need it most, are a vital part of an efficient labour market which drives growth. We want people to make learning and career choices which are well-informed, stimulating education and training which reflects need.
On 5 April 2012, Skills Minister John Hayes launched a new service which will transform careers advice by combining highly-trained advisers with an interactive website, helping people to reach their potential.
The National Careers Service will offer independent, impartial information and advice on learning and work and access to a wide range of information about careers and the job market.
The National Careers Service will:
- Handle up to one million telephone advice sessions and at least 20 million online sessions
- Provide information and advice for approximately 370,000 young people through the use of the helpline and website
- Offer face to face advice to 700,000 adults each year in a range of locations in local communities
- Operate to the recently enhanced matrix Standard, the national quality standard for the delivery of information, advice and guidance
- Provide detailed sector by sector labour market information so people can discover which industries are growing in their area
- Provide tools such as a CV builder and a Skills Health Check on the website to help people identify their skills strengths and gaps
- Allow people to open a Lifelong Learning Account, which gives them clear information and advice on skills, careers and financial support in a single, personalised online space
The National Careers Service: the right advice at the right time (PDF, 2.2 Mb) summarises all that the Government and its partners are doing to ensure that young people and adults get the advice they need on learning and work.
Schools will be responsible for securing independent, impartial careers guidance for their pupils. The Department for Education is providing statutory guidance to help schools discharge this duty, and will support the sharing of best practice.
The National Careers Service will set a benchmark for high quality which we want others to follow; and schools can choose to commission organisations in the Service to provide guidance for their pupils. The National Careers Service will work with, and augment, others such as the website ‘born2do’.
Alongside the National Careers Service, Lifelong Learning Accounts will encourage individuals to learn, and keep on learning. Our aspiration is for one million people to open Lifelong Learning Accounts by the end of 2012.
Related links
National Careers Service
The National Careers Service: the right advice at the right time (PDF, 2.2 Mb)
