Jan 23 2012

The 157 Group recently published its latest policy paper, entitled 'Information is not enough: the case for professional careers guidance.'

The paper is endorsed by the Institute for Career Guidance with a foreword by their immediate past president Steve Higginbotham. The paper welcomes the Government's ambitions to strengthen careers education and guidance but argues for the importance of a qualified and professional workforce, greater collaboration between FE colleges, Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service, and for greater co-operation between schools, sixth forms and colleges to ensure that impartial IAG is readily available.

Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group said, "This is a timely policy paper making the case for a professional careers education and guidance workforce that can help learners to make informed choices about their futures. We welcome the Government's commitment to improving IAG but we feel that there are some current stumbling blocks that need removing before this can be progressed any further. Although we are supportive of Next Step, we are still pushing for an entitlement to face-to-face careers guidance for people of all ages, as this is what we feel makes a real difference to achieving effective IAG with positive outcomes for all."

Click here to access the report.