The National Careers Service is the publicly funded careers service for adults and young people (aged 13 or over) in England.
Launched in April 2012, it brings together elements of previous publicly funded careers services for adults and young people such as Connexions or Next Step.
The launch was reported by news outlets including the BBC and commented on by organisations such as NIACE, the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services, and NAEGA.
The National Careers Service aims to provide information, advice and guidance on learning, training, career choice, career development, searching for work, and the labour market. It can be accessed online, by telephone, and face to face (for people aged 19 and over).
The service aims to provide:
“high-quality information about careers and skills, and independent, professional advice and guidance” “a focus on specialist careers guidance, built on the principles of independence and professional standards” “information, advice and guidance both to inform and to stimulate demand for further education, work-based training and higher education.”
History
The idea of a careers service for those aged 13 and over was raised in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills strategy document ‘Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth’ published in November 2010. Plans for the new service were laid out in a further document, ‘New Challenges, New Chances: Further Education and Skills System Reform Plan: Building a World Class Skills System’, published December 2011.
Next Step
Prior to the National Careers Service, the publicly funded careers service for adults in England was known as Next Step.
Next Step launched on 1 August 2010 and for the first time fully integrated the existing web-based, telephone-based and local face to face careers services for adults.
Connexions Direct
Telephone and web-based advice for young people was previously provided through Connexions Direct, which was part of the wider Connexions service.
Funding
The National Careers Service is funded and managed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, sponsored by the Department for Education.
Services provided
The remit of the National Careers Service is to provide “information, advice and guidance to help [customers] make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities." The service offers confidential and impartial advice, supported by qualified careers advisers.
This includes support with: CV writing Understanding the job market Searching and applying for jobs Interview techniques Searching for courses and training schemes Finding funding to support learning Finding out about volunteering opportunities to help develop work skills Identifying key strengths and skills Exploring career options Choosing training routes Developing a plan for career goals.
The service also participates in national learning campaigns such as Adult Learners' Week.
Whilst available to any individual aged 13+, National Careers Service focuses on supporting six priority groups to get into work. These include: young people aged 18–24 who are not in education, employment or training; those unemployed for more than 12 months; low-skilled adults; single parents; unemployed adults over 50; and adults with special educational needs or who have a disability.
The National Careers Service offer is available throughout England, with devolved responsibility for careers advice in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Publicly funded careers services for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are provided by Careers Service Northern Ireland, Skills Development Scotland and Careers Wales respectively. There is also a dedicated careers service for the Isle of Man.
Service access
The National Careers Service can be accessed online, by telephone, or face-to-face for those who are 19 or over.
Website
The National Careers Service website contains sections on careers information and help to plan and implement career development activities. This can be accessed independently of careers advisers.