Retailers face staff shortages unless urgent action is taken, warns Skillsmart Retail. As thousands of school leavers embark on new careers this week, Skillsmart Retail has released the results of comprehensive survey of 14-19 year olds. It reveals that the three most popular career choices are: setting up their own business, with 41% of those polled considering this as an option, IT/computing (36%) and the music industry (30%). Just 21% would consider a career in retailing.

Schools and colleges throughout the UK interested in applying for the careers education and guidance excellence award, 'Investor in Careers' (IiC), can now do so in three bite size chunks.

Top UK businesses believe young employees need to bridge the business skills gap before entering the workplace, according to a new survey

The Scottish Executive this week responded to the recent ICG Positional Statement on the NEET Strategy. The statement had been formulated following correspondence with members living and working in Scotland. The formal response from the Scottish Executive answered each of the points ICG raised.

On yesterdays 'You and Yours' programme on BBC Radio 4, the programme began a series of interviews looking at peoples experiences of Career Guidance, building up to a short debate on the subject which will take place tomorrow, Wednesday 26^th July.