Employer-backed body to provide inspiration and education to pupils
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has announced the creation of a new careers and enterprise company for schools, to transform the provision of careers education and advice for young people and inspire them about the opportunities offered by the world of work.
The new company is designed to support the government’s long-term economic plan by helping young people consider all the options available to them when they leave school and ensure they are fully prepared for life in modern Britain. The government is determined that schools, colleges and employers should work in partnership to spread outstanding careers advice, guidance and inspiration to every young person across the country, regardless of their background or location.
Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan said:
Our plan for education has already transformed standards in our schools… but mastering the basics is just the start. I am clear that schools and colleges have a broader role to play in preparing young people for adult life.
That’s why the new careers and enterprise company will encourage greater collaboration between employers and schools, helping schools and colleges access a wealth of experience to inspire young people about the possibilities of the world of work.
The careers and enterprise company will focus on young people aged 12 to 18, helping them access the best advice and inspiration about the world of work by encouraging greater collaboration between schools and colleges and employers.
It will help to broker relationships between employers on one hand and schools and colleges on the other. This will ensure employers are supporting young people with decision-making and career development at every stage of school life. The brokerage arrangement will enable employers to talk directly to pupils about the opportunities available and ensure they are able to consider all the options as they move through school.
John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said:
I’m delighted our campaign for a greater focus on careers is being heard. Helping schools deliver high-quality careers advice and engage with business is a long-standing priority. The new careers company has the potential to make a big difference, and we look forward to working with Christine Hodgson and her team.
Every young person should have access to good support and advice, whatever their background. Ultimately, this new body will be a success if it uses its power to look across the country to find and tackle local areas where young people are not getting the support they need.
Nicky Morgan also announced that the current Chair of Capgemini UK, Christine Hodgson, has agreed to chair the new company which will be employer-led and independent of government. Ms Hodgson has a strong track record of developing young talent at Capgemini, where she has embraced apprentices as a source of future talent and made interactions with schools a priority. She is also on the Business in the Community board of Trustee Directors and a board member for MacIntyre Care, a leading charity providing services for individuals with learning disabilities.
The company will run a £5 million investment fund to support and generate innovation in careers advice.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said:
Employers are best placed to inspire our young people into the world of work. The new company will play a vital role in creating that bridge between businesses and schools and inspire young people with exciting career prospects.
For too long, careers advice in schools has been patchy and too dependent on individual teachers having the right knowledge and expertise, with employers often finding that school leavers don’t have the necessary skills or training. The company will put careers advice on a proper footing and ensure young people get the right advice to make the best choices.
Announcement accompanied by new research and employment information
The government has also published new research and announced it will proceed with measures that will give students more information on the outcomes of previous students, including what they earn following their course, to help them make informed decisions about their future.
This will enable learners and employers to make informed choices about the best courses for them and where to invest time and money. These measures follow a recent public consultation on how success is measured in further education. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published experimental data that shows how many learners went into further learning or employment, how many progressed in learning and what students went on to earn.
The experimental earnings data published today provides estimates of the earnings of learners up to three years after achieving a further education qualification and shows that average earnings of an advanced apprenticeship in engineering increased from £24,800 one year after study to £30,300 three years after study. The government is keen to extend this in future and, through the Small Business Enterprise and Employment Bill, is working to be able to publish the same linked earnings and employment data for higher education as well. This will be transformative in helping young people make well-informed choices and take courses that maximise their chances of future job success.
Steff joined the HRreview editorial team in November 2014. A former event coordinator and manager, Steff has spent several years working in online journalism. She is a graduate of Middlessex University with a BA in Television Production and will complete a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster in the summer of 2015.
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