How Would a Demand-Led System Affect the Information, Advice ...

How Would a Demand-Led System
Affect the Information, Advice and
Guidance Available to Individuals
and Employers
Tony Watts

Agenda
Importance of career information,
advice and guidance (IAG) from a
policy perspective
The new adult careers service
Role of career IAG within Train to
Gain and Skills Accounts

Definition
Services intended to assist individuals, of
any age, to make educational, training
and occupational choices and to manage
their careers
Individual or group; face-to
to-face or at a
distance
Includes career information,
assessment/self-assessment, assessment, interviews,
career education, taster programmes

Public-policy goals
Learning goals
Labour market goals
Social equity goals
All reframed in the light of lifelong
learning and sustaining employability

Proactive
‘Services need to be available at times and
in forms which will encourage all citizens
to continue to develop their skills and
competences throughout their lives, linked
to changing needs in the labour market.’
‘Such services need to be viewed as an
active tool, and individuals should be
positively encouraged to use them.’
- Resolution of European Council of
Education Ministers 2004

Current Provision
learndirect Advice
nextstep agencies
Jobcentre Plus
Embedded services within universities,
colleges and employers (including union
learning representatives)
Separate provision for young people
(Connexions)
cf. all-age age services elsewhere in UK

Reversal
Prior to 2001:
- Careers Service for young people
- IAG framework for adults
Now:
- IAG framework for young people
- Careers Service for adults

Career
Brings together learning and work
Focuses on aspiration and
progression
Owned by the individual

New Adult Careers Service
Brings together learndirect and
nextstep
Strong links with Jobcentre Plus
Targeted elements, but available to
all
To be trialled 2008-09, 09, and fully
operational 2010-11
11

Possible Contractors
Jobcentre Plus
LSC
learndirect Advice
stand-alone alone body

Train to Gain
Need for clear distinction between
brokerage and career IAG
Roles of career IAG:
- getting in
- getting on
- moving on
Various sources
Careers Service to be involved in systems
design and capacity building, as well as
service delivery

Train to Gain
employer
skills brokerage
learning
provider
IAG
IAG
individual
support
IAG
support
ULRs
IAG
nextstep
(via LSC)

Skills Accounts
If employers and Government are to
invest in accounts which individuals
control, career IAG is important part
of quality assurance of the system

Implications
Stronger LMI
Closer relationship between career
guidance and financial guidance
An all-age age service