Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Accepted
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National Careers Service website failing to target or be effectively used by young people.
Conclusion
The National Careers Service website is theoretically available to young people from the age of 13, but in practice is not targeted at or being used by them. Fewer than 10% of 18–19-year-olds had used it in 2018 and none of the young people we spoke to had heard of it. While we accept that schools and colleges have the main responsibility for CEIAG provision a high-quality, accessible website offering information and guidance is essential to complement their work and offer an alternative to young people outside of school or college.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation for improvements to the National Careers Service website, detailing significant past and ongoing work, including refreshing the brand, creating new content, improving accessibility, and enhancing the digital journey for young people.
Paragraph Reference:
37
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
50. The Government accepts the Committee’s recommendation regarding improvements to the National Careers Service website. The National Careers Service website is already available to young people aged 13+, and the Government has made significant improvements to the content and accessibility of the website to ensure it is attractive and useful to young people and careers advisers. We have recently refreshed the National Careers Service brand, creating new online content for younger people and ensuring the content is optimised to be easily discoverable by young people. 51. The Department has introduced improvements to the National Careers Service website including new functionality that allows users to seamlessly navigate between the National Careers Service website and the Get the Jump: Skills for Life Campaign pages (a cross-government campaign that helps young people and adults explore different training and work options). This provides a more integrated customer journey, enabling young people to more easily explore education, training and career pathways. The Department’s recently announced new single digital platform will bring together, for the first time, all information on courses and apprenticeships, helping people to understand their different education and training options, and simplifying the skills system. 52. The Department is working closely with the National Careers Service to improve the digital journey for young people, and to ensure that the content is age appropriate and accessible and provides engaging and useful content for this younger age group. For example, we are introducing new content on career choices and pathways into popular careers. We are also simplifying the content on education and training pathways including apprenticeships, traineeships and T Levels. We will continue to improve the website to ensure that it complements the advice and guidance received in schools and colleges, and that it supports young people that are not engaging with school-based provision. 53. In addition to the website, the National Careers Service offers free, impartial careers guidance by telephone and webchat to people aged 13+. These services are delivered by professionally qualified careers advisers, providing tailored advice to meet the needs of all individuals, including those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.