Skills, employability and careers

High-quality career guidance can lead to substantial benefits for society and the wider economy by supporting individuals to enhance their capacities in ways that contribute to enhanced jobs, skills and growth.

We have many years of experience in the employability and careers sector, most notably in the UK, where we deliver the National Careers Service as a prime contractor in the North East, Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Humber and as a key subcontractor in the South East of England. We provide world-class careers advice and guidance to more than 82,000 adults annually in a range of community settings. Our provision has helped transform lives and provides lasting economic and social benefit to the communities in which we work. Employing a person-centred approach, we help individuals recognise their strengths and skills, improve their employability and explore and manage their available career opportunities. Working together, we support people to realise their potential and achieve positive work and learning outcomes.

We are accredited to both the Matrix and Merlin Standards and, in all our work, we seek to demonstrate our belief in evidence-informed practice and service management. This is described and endorsed in our most recent Ofsted inspection report – view report – in which we were graded ‘outstanding’; in particular, our use of labour market information to inform practice and our approach to the use of digital tools is commended in the report.

We also know that governments need skilled workforces which meet the needs of a changing labour market. We provide accredited vocational skills programmes, with a focus on the education sector – for example, through skills bootcamps in early childhood education – and are continuing to build our portfolio in this area.