Guidance Sector

The Career Guidance Sector
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 Connexions Services and nextstep partnerships England, Skills Development Scotland, Careers Wales and the Northern Ireland Careers Service. Their services are provided through Careers/Connexions Centres, in schools, colleges, universities and in community settings. Career guidance practitioners also work in commercial companies, private practice and recruitment agencies.
Connexions
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 . There are currently 2 main pathways to be qualified to offer career guidance to young people aged 13 - 19. These are the higher education route - the Qualification in Career Guidance (QCG), and the vocational route - the NVQ level 4 in Advice and Guidance. QCG holders need to complete units from NVQ level 4 LDSS. Further details are in the Connexions Action Note CXP 174.
nextstep Partnerships in England
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
learndirect
In January 2006, learndirect launched a pilot telephone guidance service for adults in England.
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.
Further and Higher Education
Within further education, there may be a range of guidance provision depending on the nature of the college and the client group. A careers adviser from the local Careers Service (Connexions Service in England) is likely to be available to offer guidance interviews and there may also be a career guidance practitioner appointed by the college itself. Higher Education Institutions across the UK have no statutory responsibility to provide careers advice and guidance. However, such provision is seen as an increasingly important role for a university or college, all of whom have their own careers services. The function of HE careers services is to help the institution produce better-informed students who are self-reliant, able to plan and mange their own learning, and have sound career management skills. For more information visit www.agcas.org.uk
Skills Development Scotland
Skills Development Scotland works with individuals at all ages and stages of career planning, and with employers wanting to recruit and maintain a productive workforce.
Further information is available on their website www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/
Careers Wales
Careers Wales is the national brand for all age information, advice and guidance services to individuals and employers.
It was established in April 2001 and combines the 7 Careers Companies. Further information is available on their website www.careerswales.com
Careers Service Northern Ireland
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
The Voluntary Sector
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.
The Private Sector
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.
Career Development Consultancy
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.