Let local areas control career guidance schemes, says LGA

The Local Government Association has expressed concerns that a government programme designed to prepare children for life after school or higher education will only reach a fraction of young people.

As the government rolls out the second wave of Careers Hubs over the next 12 months, which aim to provide local, targeted careers and advice and guidance to young people, the Local Government Association is concerned that the Hubs will support only 1,300 schools and colleges.

This risks large amounts of young people missing out on vital guidance which could ultimately exacerbate skills gaps in local areas.

The LGA is calling on the Government to hand funding and control of national employment and skills schemes, including careers advice, to local areas. There are currently a number of organisations and providers who are involved in careers provision in a community, including the Careers and Enterprise Company, National Careers Service, Jobcentre Plus, councils, schools and colleges.

The LGA said localised support would enable councils and combined authorities to develop an all-age careers service would help reduce the number of young people not into education, employment and training – which has reached nearly 800,000 across the country.

It would also free councils to build on the success of discretionary local schemes they have set up, using their limited powers and funding, to support young people with their careers.

For example, a careers information brand called “What’s Your Thing’ has been developed by Essex County Council and the Essex Employment and Skills Board to inform residents on the wealth of careers on offer in the key growth sectors, including STEM. The careers booklet has been delivered to over 40,000 residents and several hundred schools and colleges over the past two years.

Norfolk County Council delivers with a range of programmes to support young people, including NEETs and disadvantaged groups. Their dedicated careers website HelpYouChoose offers support to school pupils from year 8 onwards on careers, education, training and employment, including apprenticeships.

Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the LGA’s People and Places Board, said: “Councils want to ensure every young person realises their full potential.

“Two years ago the Government’s Careers Strategy pledged to provide an improved service that supports people of all ages. Instead, careers provision in England is becoming ever more fragmented and complex.

“Too many young people are not receiving the high-quality, impartial and personalised careers advice they deserve and this is a disservice to them. This leaves too many youngsters making unsuitable career decisions, which have a potentially devastating impact on their future.

“Councils are best-placed to tackle this. Devolving careers advice, post-16 and skills budgets and powers to local areas, would allow councils, schools, colleges and employers to work together to improve provision and match young people with employment routes that actually exist within their local communities.”