Jo Noblett, Chair of ICG Scottish Region reports on Richard Longson's visit to Careers Scotland.
Richard Longson was installed as President of the Institute of Career Guidance at the Annual Career Guidance Conference & Exhibition in Solihull, Thursday 9 November. One of his first actions has been to travel to Scotland for the Careers Scotland Excellence Awards and briefing meetings with Vivienne Brown (ICG Vice President), Jo Noblett and ICG member and champion Hilary Clews in the Byres Road Centre. Richard also met a number of other Careers Scotland staff and mangers during his visit.
Richard, who is also Head of Career at Leicester Grammar School, was delighted that one of his first duties has been to come to Scotland to gain first hand experience of how Careers Guidance is developing and delivered in an All Age Guidance Service. He said;
'It was a great start to my year to be able to come and find out more about the good practice that our members in Careers Scotland are carrying out. It was particularly useful to be able to see and learn from professionals in their own place of work. It was a fantastic way of setting in context the Careers Awards Ceremony, which I attended the previous evening celebrating success in our professional field in Scotland. It was a real privilege to have been invited to attend the event. I am very grateful for the time that staff at Careers Scotland put aside for me in their busy schedules. I know that the ICG in Scotland has strong leadership from its Regional Representatives on Council and also from the Chair and Committee. They are all committed to building a stronger ICG in Scotland across the whole guidance community. Obviously, I am delighted that Vivienne has joined the ICG Presidential team as Vice-President. Her drive and enthusiasm will be of immense value to the ICG. We are all very lucky to have her aboard in this role. I look forward to my next visit.''
Vice President of the ICG and Head of Policy & Strategy at Careers Scotland Vivienne Brown said of Richard's visit;
'I am delighted to be working with Richard to support him in his presidential year. He has ambitions for career guidance and for the staff and organisations who work in them, through the auspices of the ICG. He has visited Scotland in his first week and is keen to meet practitioners to understand the professional successes and challenges which we face. Career guidance is higher and higher on the policy agenda; and a strong membership association under strong leadership is essential to take forward professional views and practices. He has already made contact with our policy makers here in Scotland and I believe this is testimony to his resolution to be visible and credible on behalf of the ICG. He will need our continued support to be successful on our behalf.'
Careers Scotland Team Leader Hilary Clews also met Richard during his visit;
'We were delighted that Richard visited the Byres Road Centre, where he spent time with several members of the multidisciplinary team finding out about their different roles. Although he is aware of how Careers Scotland operates, it was an opportunity to witness the Career Planning Journey in action! He was interested to hear from the team how the ICG could support them in the future.'
Richard is keen to meet other ICG members over the coming year and is looking forward to returning to Scotland in the New Year. The Scottish Regional Committee will be working hard to support Richard over the term of his presidency and raise awareness of the importance of career guidance and membership of the ICG to our partners in Scotland. | 
