An independent report commissioned by Connexions Cornwall and Devon has found that their Investor in Careers programme (IiC) benefits the young people, schools and colleges who take part in it, with over two thirds of participating organisations saying they would recommend its use to others.
Investor in Careers is managed by Connexions Cornwall and Devon Ltd, and is a kitemark for quality in careers education and guidance. It has been successfully implemented in 389 schools, further education colleges and approved training providers throughout the country since its launch in 1994 and is now the most widely used quality award for careers and education guidance (CEG) in England.
The evaluation into CEG was carried out in order to assess and improve provision in this area for young people. The research carried out by the internationally renowned Centre for Guidance Studies at the University of Derby compares schools/colleges that have achieved the award with those which have not participated in the scheme.
Research from the report indicates that a great number of participating organisations find the achievement of the IiC award to be beneficial in a number of ways: raising the status and effectiveness of CEG, as a tool for gathering evidence for OFSTED inspections, and improving young peoples' views of CEG and also their capacity to make choices and effective transitions.
Deirdre Hughes, director of the Centre for Guidance Studies said, "The Centre's work is focused on examining strategies to improve and develop information, advice and guidance services for young people and adults. The results from this recent study are extremely encouraging, given the findings show that quality standards offer an important means of supporting good quality provision in schools and colleges. The Government's Green Paper 'Youth Matters' (July 2005) made explicit the desire to drive up quality and impartiality of information, advice and guidance services. The findings from this study are highly relevant and should feed into this important national debate."
Connexions Cornwall and Devon director of development Shaun Newman said, "The Government's 'End to End Review' and 'Youth Matters' Green Paper both acknowledge the role of quality standards in enhancing CEG in schools and colleges. We feel it is very important to evaluate the impact IiC has on the organisations who have achieved it and therefore the quality of CEG on offer to young people, in order to ensure there is a system of continuous improvement. Connexions Cornwall and Devon is very proud to be leading the field in this area of work and is pleased to see how the majority of institutions who have gone through the IiC programme have benefited." | 
