UK Parliament Invests £30 Million in Careers Education for Young People

Strategic Insights -

The UK Parliament has recently invested £30 million to support the improvement of careers programmes for young people across educational settings. This investment is part of a larger effort to provide high-quality careers education that prepares young people for the workforce by giving them a clear understanding of the world of work, including routes to jobs and careers that they might find engaging and rewarding. The Department for Education is promoting the adoption of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance, a careers framework based on rigorous national and international research. Over 4,200 schools and colleges are using the Benchmarks to develop and improve their careers programmes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK Department for Education is investing £30 million to support the improvement of careers programmes for young people across educational settings.
  • The Department is promoting the adoption of the eight Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance, a careers framework based on rigorous national and international research.
  • Over 4,200 schools and colleges are using the Benchmarks to develop and improve their careers programmes.
  • By October 2022, 4,500 (90%) of schools and colleges in England were part of a Careers Hub, a initiative that provides access to a Careers Leader, digital support, and the Enterprise Advisor Network.
  • Over 2,170 Careers Leaders have been trained since training was launched in September 2018.
  • Around 3,416 schools and colleges are partnered with an Enterprise Adviser, a senior business volunteer, to develop their careers strategies and employer engagement plans.
  • The Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme had a reach of 680,000 young people in academic year 2021/22 and supported over 2,000 schools.
  • A new £2.6 million careers programme has been launched to inspire primary school children about the world of work, supporting over 600,000 pupils in over 2,200 primary schools.
  • Legislation came into force in January 2023, requiring all pupils to have six encounters with providers of approved technical education qualifications and apprenticeships during school years 8 to 13.

Statistics:

  • £30 million investment by the Department for Education to support careers education.
  • 4,200 schools and colleges using the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Career Guidance.
  • 90% of schools and colleges in England (4,500 out of 5,000) were part of a Careers Hub by October 2022.
  • 2,170 Careers Leaders have been trained since September 2018.
  • 3,416 schools and colleges partnered with an Enterprise Adviser.
  • 680,000 young people reached by the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme in 2021/22.
  • £3.2 million annual cost of the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme.
  • £2.6 million funding for the new careers programme to inspire primary school children.
  • 600,000 pupils supported by the new careers programme.
  • 2,200 primary schools participating in the new careers programme.
  • 55 Education Investment Areas where the new careers programme will be implemented.

Sources:

  • Written answer by Baroness Barran to the UK Parliament, dated 13 February 2023.