Blog posts for tags:Employability, Employability, careers advice

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Choosing the right career path

By , Wednesday 18 May 2016

A recently released report has stated that better understanding is needed of why young people choose oversubscribed career paths. The AELP-published study, Routes into Work… it’s alright for some, aimed to explain why youth unemployment has remained high as the economy recovers.

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What does the future hold for Technical and Professional Education?

By David Grailey, Chief Executive, Wednesday 18 May 2016

David Grailey

Here at NCFE we’re anticipating the forthcoming publication of the skills white paper which will, in part, include the findings of the Sainsbury Review of Technical and Professional Education (TPE).   Although this wasn’t referenced in the Queen’s Speech on 18 May as expected, rumours are that the final recommendations and report will be published at some point later, before the EU referendum Purdah begins on 27 May.

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Can we improve careers advice?

By , Wednesday 20 April 2016

Careers advice has once again been a hot topic in the news, as many in and outside of the sector have emphasised its importance, and some have criticised the current resources available to school learners and leavers. Gatsby has carried out a survey on the current state of careers advice in the UK and made recommendations to improve the guidance young people receive going forward. In the foreword of the report, Lord Sainsbury argues that, while many reports in the past have been critical of the careers advice available to learners, the situation hasn’t improved. He cites persistent youth unemployment and the widening skills gap facing UK employers as evidence of this.

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Improving social mobility through education

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Monday 18 April 2016

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

Last week the House of Lords Select Committee on Social Mobility released its Overlooked and left behind: improving the transition from school to work for the majority of young people report. The report follows a 9 month inquiry in the senior chamber, and makes a series of conclusions and recommendations for the government. The committee feels that “Non-academic routes to employment are complex, confusing and incoherent. The qualifications system is similarly confused and has been subjected to continual change”. It also notes that non-academic routes don’t guarantee entry into quality employment and are poorly understood by employers.

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The changing perceptions of Apprenticeships

By , Wednesday 23 March 2016

We’ve recently celebrated National Apprenticeship Week and saw the Annual Apprenticeship Conference 2016 take place. Apprenticeships are still at the forefront of the education sector, but are perceptions of the programmes improving outside of the sector? Apprenticeships have long been perceived as a secondary route for young people to take in their education, particularly in comparison to A Levels or university. One of the key Ofsted Annual Report 2014-15 findings was that some schools and colleges weren’t promoting Apprenticeships equally, with many still pushing university as the default route. We’ve also seen anecdotal evidence to suggest that parents have been inclined to think the same way, and it’s often down to a lack of information on Apprenticeships.

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Soft skills mean business

By , Wednesday 23 March 2016

The need to focus on basic, work-ready skills has been in the spotlight again, with some in the Further Education sector arguing that the government should be focusing its efforts on improving basic skills rather than its heavy emphasis on Apprenticeships. As recently reported in FE Week, “the BIS Select Committee’s report on the Government’s productivity plan raised concerns about the lack of focus on a variety of policy areas, including Apprenticeships, but what has escaped most attention was the call to address the poor level of basic skills in the workforce”. 

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The right advice

By , Monday 22 February 2016

Careers advice is once again in the news, as a new law that states vocational and academic options must be promoted equally is touted. This follows the Ofsted Annual Report 2014-2015, which revealed that one of the most common reasons learners don’t continue study or enter into employment is because the careers advice they receive before choosing their route after school was flawed. In particular, vocational education or training and Apprenticeships were poorly promoted; in fact, Apprenticeships are often presented as a last option to learners.

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Further Education is "crucial" and must be protected

By , Thursday 18 February 2016

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has voiced his support for lifelong learning and the vital role that Further Education colleges play in this. Speaking at the University and College Union’s (UCU) Cradle to Grave conference, Mr Corbyn highlighted the necessity of access to education at any age, in a time when the UK faces a troubling skills gap crisis.

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Survey reveals significant skills gap

By , Thursday 18 February 2016

The results of the UK Employer Skills Survey 2015 were recently published, shedding light on the extent of the skills gap the UK is currently facing – a quarter of vacancies are unfilled due to a shortage of people with the required skills. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) survey reveals how significant the nation’s skills gap is, which is surprising given the still problematic levels of unemployment in the UK. Over 90,000 employers were surveyed, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem.

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Will Apprenticeships measures put Public Sector employment at risk?

By Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, Policy Leader, Tuesday 16 February 2016

Andrew Gladstone-Heighton

This month saw the publication of the Institute for Fiscal Studies’ (IFS) Green Budget. The report looks at the issues and challenges facing the Chancellor as he prepares for his Budget in March. The study has highlighted the risks threatening the government’s spending plans, including how key aspects of the Apprenticeship reform programme, intended to create growth and increase productivity, may actually challenge it.

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