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Hub Newsletter Education – 03/11/2026

Annual Conference 20/10/2026

South Midlands Careers Hub Annual Conference 2026: Connecting Futures, Building Talent, Driving Growth

On Tuesday 20 October, the South Midlands Careers Hub welcomed education leaders, careers professionals, employers and strategic partners from across the region to our Annual Conference 2026, Connecting Futures: Building Talent, Driving Growth.

The conference brought together colleagues from education, industry and the wider skills ecosystem to share expertise, strengthen partnerships and explore how high-quality careers education can improve outcomes for all young people while supporting the evolving workforce needs of the South Midlands.

We were delighted to welcome 147 delegates, including Careers Leaders, Senior Leaders, Careers Advisers, employers and representatives from partner organisations. The energy, enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated throughout the day reflected our shared ambition to ensure every young person can access meaningful opportunities and successful futures.

Conference Feedback at a Glance

  • 147 delegates attended
  • 95%+ of attendees rated their overall experience as Good or Excellent
  • Networking was the most frequently cited benefit
  • Keynote speakers received consistently outstanding feedback
  • Over 20 delegates volunteered to support future Careers Challenge resource development
  • Practical workshops and employer collaboration were highlighted as major strengths of the event

Delegate feedback highlighted the significant impact of the conference. Attendees particularly valued the opportunity to connect with peers, employers and partners, alongside practical workshops that provided ideas, resources and strategies to take back into their organisations. Many reported leaving with a stronger understanding of tools such as the Institution Leadership Review (ILR), Compass+ and Labour Market Intelligence, as well as renewed confidence in their careers leadership practice. Feedback also identified opportunities for future development, including increased networking time, greater audience interaction and broader employer representation, helping to shape future Careers Hub events.

The standout highlights of the day were two thought-provoking keynote sessions that challenged delegates to think differently about opportunity, inclusion and the role of youth voice in shaping future careers provision.

Amjad Ali, CPD and Inclusion Lead at Chiltern Learning Trust, delivered a powerful keynote centred on the message that “talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t”. His presentation challenged delegates to consider how barriers can be removed to ensure equitable access to opportunities for every young person.

Lauren Mistry FIEP, Deputy CEO at Youth Employment UK, shared valuable insights from youth voice research and highlighted the importance of listening to and acting on the experiences of young people when designing careers education and employment opportunities.

Both sessions received fantastic feedback from delegates and set the tone for a day focused on equity, aspiration and meaningful collaboration.

Our Employer Growth Sector Panel featured industry representatives Simon Acres, Dillon Considine, Andy Fitt, Stephen Henson and Cheryl Loak, and was expertly chaired by Ruth Roan from South Midlands Growth Hub.

The discussion explored labour market trends, future skills needs and the role education and employers can play in developing the talent pipeline required to support regional economic growth.

We were delighted to welcome Michael Britland from The Careers & Enterprise Company, who delivered two engaging workshops:

  • Measuring What Matters: Careers Impact Evaluation
  • Engaging Parents and Carers as Influencers

The parent and carer engagement workshop was co-designed with our own Olivia Dams, ensuring delegates left with practical approaches and resources that could be implemented immediately within their schools and organisations.

Alongside these sessions, delegates also benefited from a wide range of workshops delivered by the South Midlands Careers Hub team, covering topics including strategic careers leadership, labour market intelligence, progressive careers programmes, employer engagement and embedding careers across the curriculum.

We are incredibly proud of our South Midlands Careers Hub Careers Consultants: Claire Coles, Lorraine Emerton, Louise Lynch, Mandy Browning, Olivia Dams, Sarah Latimer and Vikki Morton, who worked tirelessly to plan, coordinate and deliver impactful workshops and learning opportunities throughout the conference.

Their expertise, dedication and commitment helped create a day that was informative, collaborative and focused on driving meaningful change for young people.

A huge thank you to the employers and partners who supported our Growth Sector Industry Project Co-design Workshops, including representatives from Simon Acres Group Ltd, Office Mango, TC Group, TUTS, Decathlon, CILT (UK), University of Northampton, Shaw Trust, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, Aden Contracting Limited, Wates Group, bpha, KROHNE, Oxford House Dental Practice and Silverstone Museum.

Their support enabled rich discussions and meaningful collaboration between education and industry, helping to strengthen the connections that support young people to understand and access future career opportunities.

Looking Ahead

Most importantly, thank you to every delegate who attended and contributed to the conversations, ideas and partnerships that emerged throughout the day.

The conference demonstrated the collective commitment across the South Midlands to improving outcomes for young people and ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge, skills and experiences needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

The ideas, partnerships and opportunities generated during the conference will continue to inform and shape our work over the coming year as we work together to connect futures, build talent and drive growth.

Conference resources and workshop materials can be accessed here: South Midlands Careers Hub 2026 Conference – South Midlands Careers Hub

Join our team

We’re recruiting a Project Officer to join the South Midlands Careers Hub.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in the delivery of Careers Hub programmes and initiatives that improve careers education and employer engagement opportunities for young people across the region.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys building partnerships, managing projects, working with data and turning ideas into action. Experience in careers education, employer engagement or education settings would be particularly valuable.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team working across education, business and the wider community to help young people thrive.

Find out more and apply now:https://jobs.westnorthants.gov.uk/jobs/job/Project-Officer-Careers-Hub/9559

Recommended Reading: Careers Impact National System Review 3

We encourage all Careers Leaders to take a look at the latest Careers Impact System: National System Review 3 from The Careers & Enterprise Company, which explores how education settings can deliver more impactful, inclusive and progressive work experience opportunities for all learners. The review draws on evidence from 47 education settings and highlights the key role that meaningful work experience plays in improving engagement, aspirations, confidence, progression and reducing the risk of young people becoming NEET. It also provides practical recommendations on using learner need, destination data, employer partnerships and Gatsby Benchmark 6 to design high-quality workplace experiences that support every young person, particularly those whose needs might otherwise go unmet. As schools implement the updated work experience expectations, this report offers valuable insights, examples of effective practice and strategic considerations for Careers Leaders and senior leaders alike.

Read the full report: Careers Impact System: National System Review 3 – In Pursuit of Modern Work Experience That Works for Every Learner

Hub Spotlights

Across the South Midlands, schools, colleges, employers, and partners are working together to transform careers education. These spotlights demonstrate how high-quality experiences, meaningful employer engagement, and innovative projects are equipping young people with the confidence, ambition, and skills to navigate their future pathways successfully.

Do you have a story, innovation or achievement to share? We’d love to hear from you. Complete the form using the link below below to highlight your work and inspire colleagues and partners across the network. Once your form is submitted, it will be reviewed by a member of the Careers Hub team and published in due course.

https://careershub.southmidlands.org.uk/hub-spotlights/

Save the Date – 2027 Inclusion Conference 1st July 2027

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Inclusion Conference will be taking place on Thursday 1st July 2027, at the University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue, Bedford. Further information, including registration details and the full programme, will be shared in due course.

The Inclusion Conference brings together stakeholders across education, local authority and industry to celebrate inclusive careers education and share effective practice. The event will showcase approaches to help ensure young people with SEND and those facing additional barriers can access meaningful, high-quality careers education.

Who is the Conference for?

  • Careers Leader in special schools and alternative provision settings
  • SENCo’s and Inclusion teams in mainstream settings
  • Further Education SEND colleagues
  • Local authority SEND representatives
  • Employers and providers

Careers Leaders from mainstream schools are also warmly invited to attend alongside a member of their SENCo or Inclusion Team, supporting a collaborative approach to careers education.  

Ahead of the conference, we will be hosting our termly Inclusion Community of Practice (CoP) online via Teams on Tuesday 24th November 2.30pm – 3.45pm.

If you are a Careers Leader in a mainstream setting and would like to attend with your SENCo or Inclusion Team, please email sarah.latimer@southmidlands.org.uk

You can also explore resources and approaches to effective practice on our hub’s SEND Padlet.

We look forward to sharing more details about our Inclusion Conference soon.

Featured Article: Careers Education and the New Ofsted Framework – A Careers Leader’s Inspection Experience

As schools prepare for inspections under the new Ofsted framework, understanding how careers education is viewed within the wider inspection process has never been more important. In this reflective article by Rebecca Brown, from The Woodlands School, shares her first-hand experience as a Careers Leader involved in a recent inspection, offering practical insights into the questions asked, evidence reviewed and the role careers education played across multiple inspection themes.

Drawing on discussions around inclusion, post-16 progression, curriculum, achievement, strategic leadership and personal development, Rebecca highlights how careers education is no longer viewed as a standalone programme but as a key contributor to whole-school improvement and pupil outcomes. The article includes practical advice on preparing evidence, demonstrating impact, using destination data effectively, showcasing the Gatsby Benchmarks and ensuring careers provision is represented throughout the inspection process.

Packed with reflections, lessons learned and suggested preparation questions, this is an essential read for Careers Leaders looking to strengthen their inspection readiness and demonstrate the difference careers education makes to young people’s futures.

Careers Education and the New Ofsted Framework TWSDownload

Careers Impact System

Internal Leadership Review – (complete annually)

The review involves colleagues reflecting on a range of statements in the Maturity Model, then selecting those that best describe the practice in their setting. Colleagues consider the statements and the responses, which indicate progressive maturity within each of the six themes. Colleagues should do this ahead of coming together to discuss and agree a final response for each statement that represents their setting.

The CEC have refreshed the maturity model to help strengthen how it supports schools, specialist settings and colleges to:

  • use a more consistent structure to underpin Internal Leadership Reviews (ILRs) and Peer-to-Peer Reviews
  • engage in reflective, non‑judgemental dialogue about their current position
  • connect careers leadership more clearly to whole-setting priorities (e.g. inclusion, engagement, transitions)
  • identify realistic, high-impact next steps

The updated model is available here – this is a digital guidance document and is not intended for printing – print friendly versions below:

A Careers Impact internal leadership review needs a collaborative approach and is a reflection on the maturity of careers leadership across a school, specialist setting or college.

Who should take part? – All those involved in the distributed leadership of careers should be involved in elements of the review process e.g.

  • Careers Adviser
  • Careers Coordinator
  • Central Strategic Careers Leader          
  • Enterprise Adviser         
  • Head(s) of Year/Head(s) of Department             
  • Headteacher/Principal Careers Leader
  • Link Governor  
  • PSHE Lead
  • SENCo/Head of SEND
  • SLT; Pastoral, Personal Development, Curriculum, Progress, Teaching & Learning
  • SLT; Vice Principal/Assistant Principal Head of Inclusion
  • Student Support/Student Services

For example you could choose to involve your senior leadership team in Theme One of the review, or your SENCo in Theme Two and Theme Six.


Peer to Peer Reviews (bi-annually)

  • Internal Leadership Review (ILR): Before the session, each institution completes an internal self-assessment using the above Careers Impact Maturity Model (which links six core themes to the Gatsby Benchmarks) and logs responses in Compass Plus.
  • The Peer-to-Peer Session: Careers Leaders and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) member from a small group of different schools or colleges convene (typically for a full day).
  • Challenge and Reflection: Facilitated by trained facilitators, participants review one another’s ILR findings, test assumptions, share good practice, and address common challenges in a non-judgmental environment.
  • Action Planning: Sessions conclude with each institution establishing a clear, updated improvement plan to drive long-term student outcomes.

Autumn peer-to-peer day 9/12/26

Spring peer-to-peer day 09/03/27

Summer term peer-to-peer day TBC

This year in addition to the various dates when our careers consultants bring together trios throughout the year we are trialing delivering 2 or 3 peer-to-peer reviews at the same time giving up to 9 schools or colleges the opportunities for wider networking. Please reach out to your careers consultant to get involved.

Peer-to-Peer Review feedback from educators:

“It was so helpful taking part in the P2P, it gave us a fantastic opportunity to think more deeply about our programme and consider wider approaches we could take to making the improvements we need to provide our students with the best possible knowledge and experiences to help support them as they move from being a learner in school to becoming a successful, thriving member of our wider community.”

Beth Hardy, Kingswood

“Thank you very much for Monday. I found the day really useful and productive. It was good that you had paired three schools together that had similar and yet different needs. I feel we all got something valuable out of it and am looking forward to catching up again in November.
Creating an action plan was a productive way of us addressing what we need to do next.“

Vikki Horlock, Bedford Academy

Annual Conference Workshop 3: Engaging Parents and Carers as Influencers

Huge shout out to all who attended and contributed to this workshop! We had some really great ideas and suggestion during the above workshop which we have captured below under the four discussion points.  If anyone has any good examples of parental engagement in practice we would love to hear from you! Email careershub@southmidlands.org.uk or share your hub spotlight here Hub Spotlights – South Midlands Careers Hub

Key challenges:

  • Parents are often overwhelmed by information and may miss careers-related messages.
  • Careers information is sometimes difficult to find within school websites and communications.
  • Social media engagement from parents can be low.
  • Not all parents access information in the same way.
  • Ensuring online content is accessible, inclusive and mobile-friendly remains important.

Suggested approaches:

  • Create a simple, dedicated careers page or screen that is easy to access and navigate.
  • Ensure all careers information is mobile-compatible.
  • Use consistent branding, messaging and posting across all platforms.
  • Increase use of visual content, including images, videos and case studies.
  • Share content in multiple formats and languages.
  • Develop a clear social media strategy focused on careers.
  • Use WhatsApp and other commonly used communication platforms where appropriate.
  • Make information relevant to the whole school community rather than targeting individual year groups only.
  • Ensure imagery and content are representative and inclusive.
  • Gather parent feedback about preferred communication channels.

Key messages:

  • Keep communications concise and accessible.
  • Meet parents where they already engage digitally.
  • Consistency and visibility are critical.

Barriers identified:

  • Parents’ work commitments and time constraints.
  • Childcare responsibilities.
  • Transport and accessibility challenges.
  • Lack of confidence or understanding about the purpose of careers events.
  • Events sometimes feel geared towards young people rather than parents.
  • One format does not suit all families.

Suggested approaches:

  • Offer a variety of event formats, including:
  • Drop-in sessions
  • Online webinars
  • Hybrid events
  • Careers fairs
  • Information evenings
  • Schedule events at different times, including evenings and weekends.
  • Link careers activities to existing school events where attendance is already higher.
  • Consider incentives such as refreshments or informal networking opportunities.
  • Provide childcare, transport support or crèche facilities where possible.
  • Invite employers directly to engage with parents.
  • Encourage parents to bring young people and make discussions family-focused.
  • Personalise invitations and communications.
  • Increase promotion through multiple channels and repeated reminders.

Event content ideas:

  • Apprenticeship information sessions.
  • Industry-specific talks.
  • Employer panels.
  • Parent and alumni case studies.
  • Information on local labour market opportunities.
  • Sessions covering post-16 and post-18 pathways.

Key messages:

  • Flexibility is essential.
  • Make events relevant, convenient and worthwhile for families.
  • Reduce practical barriers to attendance.

Common issues:

  • Parents often rely on their own outdated experiences of education and employment.
  • There is confusion about modern pathways, particularly apprenticeships and technical routes.
  • Frequent changes to qualifications and progression routes can be difficult to keep up with.
  • Parents may lack confidence in advising their children.
  • Parents often rely on their own outdated experiences of education and employment.
  • There is confusion about modern pathways, particularly apprenticeships and technical routes.
  • Frequent changes to qualifications and progression routes can be difficult to keep up with.
  • Parents may lack confidence in advising their children.

Suggested approaches:

  • Provide clear, jargon-free information.
  • Create accessible guides explaining:
  • GCSE choices
  • Post-16 options
  • Post-18 options
  • Apprenticeships
  • Technical and vocational routes
  • Higher education pathways
  • Use newsletters, apps and digital platforms to share information regularly.
  • Host webinars and information sessions specifically for parents.
  • Involve employers, alumni and apprentices to share real-life experiences.
  • Personalise pathway information where possible.
  • Signpost further support and guidance.

Communication methods:

  • Webinars and online talks.
  • Parent information evenings.
  • School apps and newsletters.
  • Videos and case studies.
  • Career pathway maps and progression diagrams.

Key messages:

  • Information needs to be simple, practical and regularly updated.
  • Real-life examples help parents understand changing pathways.
  • Parents need support to become informed career influencers.

Barriers identified:

  • Financial pressures.
  • Transport and accessibility issues.
  • Childcare demands.
  • Limited literacy, English language proficiency or SEND-related needs.
  • Lack of confidence engaging with schools.
  • Previous negative experiences of education.
  • Time pressures and competing priorities.
  • General apathy or perception that careers information is not relevant.

Suggested approaches:

  • Increase face-to-face engagement and personal contact.
  • Follow up individually with phone calls or personal invitations.
  • Use trusted community networks and local organisations.
  • Communicate in multiple languages and formats.
  • Offer information through audio, visual and video formats.
  • Attend community events to reach families outside school settings.
  • Embed careers conversations into events that parents already attend.
  • Seek and respond to parent voice and feedback.
  • Use informal engagement opportunities, such as coffee mornings.
  • Work with parents rather than expecting them to come to school.

Key messages:

  • Relationships and trust are fundamental.
  • Personalised, proactive engagement is more effective than mass communication alone. Removing practical, cultural and confidence barriers is essential.

Several messages appeared consistently across all discussion groups:

  • Personalisation matters – parents respond better when communication and invitations feel relevant to them.
  • Multiple communication channels are needed – no single method reaches everyone.
  • Accessibility must be prioritised – including language, literacy, SEND needs, digital access and timing.
  • Employers and alumni add credibility – real-world examples help parents understand opportunities.
  • Flexibility increases engagement – offer a range of formats, times and locations.
  • Relationships are key – trust and personal contact are often more effective than additional information alone.
  • Parents need support to understand modern career pathways – particularly apprenticeships, technical education and changing labour market opportunities.

Compass+ Updates and CPD Opportunities

Compass+ training continues this term

Compass+ webinars are designed to support with every aspect of using Compass+, whether you’re completely new to the product, looking for a quick refresher, or ready to take your expertise to the next level. Whatever your experience, everyone’s welcome. 

During each webinar, you’ll have the opportunity to ask our experts any questions you may have about Compass+. We recommend logging into your Compass+ account during the session so you can follow along and get the most from the training.

Join this product tour to explore Compass+, and learn more about core functionality that supports evaluating, managing and reporting on your setting’s careers provision.

This webinar is suitable for all Compass+ users.

Looking for guidance and resources? Getting started with Compass+

The Compass evaluation and internal leadership review are two core features in Compass+ that support meaningful impact evaluation.

Join this webinar to see both features in action and learn how to incorporate them intentionally into your practice.

This webinar is suitable for all Compass+ users.

Looking for guidance and resources? Compass evaluations on Compass+ – Careers Impact System 

Your Child’s Future (YCF) has been designed to help education settings understand parents’ and carers’ knowledge, confidence and awareness of careers.

Join this webinar to learn more about YCF including how to generate links, share these effectively with parents and carers, and how to review questionnaire responses.

This webinar is suitable for all Compass+ users.

Looking for guidance and resources? Your Child’s Future

OnTrack+ has been designed to help educators identify emerging support needs for learners in Years 7-11, strengthening sustained learner engagement and post-16 transition.

Join this webinar to see OnTrack+ in action and learn how it can be used effectively flag learners for intervention.

This webinar is only suitable for settings that have connected their Management Information System (MIS) to Compass+.

Looking for guidance and resources? OnTrack+ in Compass+

The Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) measures learners’ career-readiness. Strongly recommended by the DfE, FSQ covers key aspects of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are important for successful transitions.

Join this webinar to explore the FSQ 5 steps to success framework and learn how to deliver FSQ effectively in your setting.

This webinar is only suitable for settings that have connected their Management Information System (MIS) to Compass+.

Looking for guidance and resources? The Future Skills Questionnaire

Activities and Activities Reporting provides a clear view of your careers programme and how it’s progressing.

Join this webinar to learn how to record activities in Compass+ and meaningfully review the data.

This webinar is only suitable for settings that have connected their Management Information System (MIS) to Compass+.

Looking for guidance and resources? Activities 

From learner reporting to the individual learner profile, Compass+ can provide a wealth of learner data to help target and personalise support.

Join this webinar to explore a range of functionality in Compass+ that helps to evidence an individual careers learning journey for every learner.

This webinar is only suitable for settings that have connected their Management Information System (MIS) to Compass+.

Looking for guidance and resources? Learner Data

Your Child’s Future – a questionnaire for parents and carers

Your Child’s Future (YCF) is a new feature that helps education settings understand parents’ and carers’ knowledge, confidence and awareness of careers.

Supported by the Gatsby Foundation, Your Child’s Future has been designed to enable education settings to strengthen parental engagement and use their insights to develop more informed, responsive and effective careers programmes that better support young people.

👉 Visit the Compass+ Help Centre to learn more about YCF and how to use it effectively in your setting.

Parents and carers are one of the biggest influences of young people’s career decision making, but their knowledge and understanding of careers is not always up to date and often based on their own lived experience. Recognising this is essential for the development of effective careers provision and for enhancing awareness of careers education among parents and carers. This is also reflected in the updated Gatsby Benchmarks, emphasising greater engagement with parents and carers.

It is increasingly important for educators to assess parents and carers knowledge and understanding regarding careers delivery within their child’s educational setting, to reflect on the effectiveness, reach and impact of current information sharing and support.

OnTrack+

OnTrack+ is an early insight feature within Compass + that has been designed help educators identify emerging support needs for learners in Years 7-11, strengthening sustained learner engagement and post-16 transition. Join our webinar to walk through this feature and learn how to use it effectively in your setting.

– Understand why OnTrack+ was developed
– Learn where to access the feature in Compass+ and how to use key functionality
– Explore OnTrack+ data and reporting
– Know where to access further support and guidance. 

Keen to explore OnTrack+ now? Take a look at our supporting resources – OnTrack+

Upcoming Events and CPD

Funded Career Leader Training – last chance to enroll on this years local cohort – you will need to be able to attend all four in person workshops being held in Cranfield, Bedfordshire on 17/11, 18/11, 02/02 & 03/02 email your careers consultant asap if interested.

EventDateTime
Bedfordshire career leaders Network Meeting11/11/269.30
Bedfordshire career leaders Network Meeting11/11/2614.00
MK Career leader network Meeting 12/11/269.00
Inclusion COP24/11/2614.30
SLT Briefing: Work Experience Reform25/11/268.00
Learning Sprint; The Equalex framework and learning outcomes25/11/2615.30
Education Showcase; exploring Peer to Peer strategic priorities.02/12/2615.30
Autumn peer to peer day09/12/269.30 – 15.30
Spring term kick off12/01/2715.30
Luton career leaders network meeting18/01/2713.30
Learning Sprint: Creating a progressive learning journey20/01/2713.00
Provider Showcase23/02/2715.30
Send Community of Practice24/02/2714.30
Learning Sprint: Measuring what matters02/03/2715.30
Spring peer to peer day09/03/279.30 – 15.30
West Northants career leaders network meeting17/03/2710.00
MK Career leaders network meeting18/03/279.00