Career guidance is available to both young people and adults from a number of different sources in the UK. The majority of career guidance practitioners work within publicly funded agencies, including Careers Scotland, Careers Wales, the Northern Ireland Careers Service, and Connexions Services and Information, nextsteps Partnerships for Adults in England. Services are provided through Careers/Connexions Centres, in schools, and in community settings.

Career guidance practitioners also work in commercial companies, Further Education Colleges, private practice, recruitment agencies and Universities.

Connexions was introduced in England in April 2001 and provides a support service for young people aged 13-19.

The service brings together the work of the Careers Service, Youth Service, Education Welfare Service and some aspects of health through local Connexions Partnerships.

A new role of Personal Adviser has been developed within the Connexions Service to act as a single point of contact for young people. 

The Connexions website www.connexions.gov.uk gives further information about the Connexions service. Contact details for the Connexions Partnerships are on the NACP website www.nacp.co.uk/members-search .

QCG holders need to complete units from NVQ level 4 LDSS. Further details are in the Connexions Action Note CXP 174.

nextstep in england promote learning and work to all adults aged 20 and over. 

Information, advice and guidance services for adults are provided by local nextstep partnerships.

For more information visit www.nextstep.org.uk or www.lsc.gov.uk

Through development of existing advisers and external recruitment, learndirect has undertaken to increase the number of Lifelong Learning Advisers and to offer action planning guidance to 70,000 adults over the 18 months of the pilot.

Careers Scotland was established in April 2002 and provides services, information and support to individuals at all ages and stages of career planning, and to employers wanting to recruit and maintain a productive workforce.

Careers Wales is the national brand for all age information, advice and guidance services to individuals and employers.

The Careers Service in Northern Ireland provides a careers service to young people and adults, as well as an employment service.

Further information is available on the website www.careersserviceni.com  

Organisations within the Voluntary Sector may provide support and guidance as part of their work. Provision offered will vary depending on the organisation but could include lifeskill and vocational training as well as counselling, advice and practical assistance, e.g. in applying for jobs.

Increasingly employers are recognising that in order to recruit and retain staff, it is essential to provide employers with access to information, advice and guidance to maximise both their potential and their career. Within companies, guidance on issues such as promotion opportunities, development needs and performance reviews may be provided as part of the line management or human resources function.

Independent career development agencies are generally based in the larger cities, especially in London and the South, and tend to offer a one-off in depth service to clients that includes testing and an interview and provides the client with a report. They do not generally provide an employment placing service and they may charge quite substantial fees depending on the service provided.