AEIAG0087

Written evidence submitted by Inspira submission

Inspira is an expert in careers and employability skills. Through our work we help local people into work, improve their skills and open new opportunities. Our aim is to support disadvantaged people, help local communities to reduce inequalities which in turn will influence healthier, safer, and more sustainable local economies.

We inspire young people and adults to find their purpose and reach their potential to Be Bold, Be Relevant and Be Resilient.

From National Careers Service to National Citizen Service, we are there every step of the way supporting individuals.

As the world changes at breakneck speed, we know adults and young people need to be prepared for the world of work, resilient in character, a team player and motivated. Our career and employability programmes help them to improve their skills and find work suitable.

We also work with employers and local economic partnerships and councils to solve local skills shortages, invest in the young people of our future, and help reduce unemployment numbers in targeted areas.

We are a charity with over 20 years’ experience in the careers and employability field and operate in the North west and North East of England.

Whether the current system of careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is serving young people: 

• As an organisation delivering varied CEIAG services across several geographical areas the system does attempt, particularly in the duties of Local Authorities to serve those from disadvantaged backgrounds and the vulnerable groups listed.
• The quality and depth of provision differs by areas.
• Where responsibilities are commissioned to specialist Careers and Employability organisations the breadth of service offered to young people is far greater. Such organisations often combine funding streams and are charities who access funds public bodies cannot, adding valuable resource to often lean services.
• High quality tracking of you people at the transition point of 16 and 18 is crucial to support young people. Knowing where young people are, and their situation is the first step in providing support. The current duties for Local Authorities to track young people should be upheld and there is an argument that they should be extended by another 12 months to aid the transition to adult services.
• ESF funding is often used to support the CEIAG system, there is a real risk that work will be lost over the next 12 months (due to the delay in UKSPF being implemented and the ‘people and skills’ theme not being prioritised in England until 2024) which will be at the detriment to the system as a whole.

Whether and how the Government should bring responsibility for CEIAG under one body, for example a National Skills Service, to take overall responsibility for CEIAG for all ages, and how this might help young people navigate the CEIAG system. 

• It would seem a positive move to have CEIAG for all ages under one body.
• It would be important that the responsibility for supporting the vulnerable groups mentioned in the previous question was clear.

Whether such a National Skills Service is best placed in the Department for Education or the Department of Work and Pensions to avoid duplication of work. 

• Although positive to have such a service placed under one body it is important that both Departments are heavily involved. Most work pre 18 is linked to some form of educational establishment so the links with DFE are clear. Would the work carry weight in education world if the responsibility sat with DWP? Much of the work with post 18 is completed with those not in the labour market, many of whom will be working with DWP. However, the current services through National Careers Service offer additionality rather duplication to work done by DWP

Whether organisations like the Careers Enterprise Company and National Careers Service provide value for money to the taxpayer. 

• The value for money is enhanced significantly when CEC programmes and National Careers Service is delivered by local vcse providers who can leverage additional funding streams and complementary provision alongside.

How careers and skills guidance could be better embedded in the curriculum across primary, secondary, further, higher and adult education, to ensure all learners are properly prepared for the world of work.

• The needs of employers and the future economy needs to drive this. More relevant information about future skills need could really enhance and equip Careers professional to provide enhanced guidance. The curriculum need have careers embedded at all the key transition point throughout primary, secondary, further, and secondary education
• Employability skills need to form part of the curriculum particularly in secondary, further, and higher education
• The Link A Game Changer for Careers Education is improving the engagement of employers in Career Education in the Cumbria LEP area. It’s a an ESF funded project delivered by Inspira on behalf of Cumbria LEP.  Through The Link, we are building a network of small and medium sized employers to work with young people across Cumbria to understand the world of work. This exciting project brings employers into the world of education through a range of activities increasing the number of opportunities young people have to learn from employers about the world of work and the skills that are valued in the workplace. Examples of the kinds of opportunities include: world of work events, mock interviews, speed networking, interactive workshops and careers fairs. We believe it is having a real impact with schools, employers and most importantly young people.

  How schools could be supported to better fulfil their duties to provide careers advice and inform students of technical, as well as academic, pathways. 

               How the Baker Clause could be more effectively enforced 

               How the Government can ensure more young people have access to a professional and independent careers advisor and increase the take-up of the Lifetime Skills initiative. 

• If schools are given funding (ringfenced?) to provide independent Careers advice our experience is that they will do this.
• The availability of professionally qualified, independent careers advisers is an on going problem

 Whether the proposals for CEIAG in the Government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper will effectively address current challenges in the CEIAG system.   

 Whether greater investment to create a robust system of CEIAG is needed, and how could this be targeted, to create a stronger CEIAG. 

• A more comprehensive and user-friendly National Careers Service website will be welcome as is the review of links between National Careers Service and the Careers and Enterprise Company
• Local Authorities resource targeted support in different ways, where this is done effectively it provides good value for money and can provide a model moving forward. Greater investment is needed in the National Careers Service if we are to retain the uniquely qualified staff
• There needs to be significant system investment in the CEIAG workforce to attract new entrants and retain existing staff

March 2022