Expected update – careers guidance and access for education and training providers in England
The updated statutory guidance is expected to be released this month. To understand what’s coming next, and how to position your provision with confidence, join Nicola Hall, Director of Education, from The Careers & Enterprise Company for a national broadcast.
Nicola will reflect on how the guidance aligns with wider government priorities and the updated Gatsby Benchmarks, including evolving approaches to meaningful workplace experiences. The session will also consider how these developments connect to wider changes across the careers education landscape and the direction of travel across education and skills policy.
Monday 29 June 15.45 – 16.45
Introduce and Inspire: Year 7 work experience at the South Midlands Careers Hub
Recently, the South Midlands Careers Hub welcomed two Year 7 students for a one-day immersive work experience day designed to introduce them to careers education, local government, and the world of work. Acting as ‘Junior Careers Consultants’ the students experienced a carefully structured programme that combined real-world insight and hands-on tasks.
A Day in the Life of a Careers Hub
The day began with a welcome and overview, helping students understand what a Careers Hub does and the role of a local authority, including how councils support education, skills, and economic development. Students explored who the Hub works with through interactive activities, including a Gatsby Benchmark card sort, helping them understand what good careers guidance looks like. They also met representatives from the Careers & Enterprise Company, gaining insight into national priorities and funding. A highlight of the morning was attending an economic development meeting, where they saw first-hand how councils consider skills needs and career pathways to support regional growth. Throughout the day, they took part in real meetings (both online and in person), gaining an authentic picture of workplace collaboration and communication.
Student Task: What learners should expect from their work experience activities
In the afternoon, the students took on a practical challenge: translating the “Making it Meaningful” checklist (Gatsby Benchmark 6) into something accessible for learners.
Their work produced a clear, learner-friendly version of what high-quality work experience should look like:
- Before: knowing the purpose and expected learning
- During: being active, meeting people, undertaking tasks and developing skills
- After: receiving feedback and reflecting on learning
Schools can now download this learner friendly version to use with learners when preparing them for work experience activities.
Student Reflections
What they enjoyed most: “Helping people and seeing how adults work together as a team… trying tasks I had never done before made me feel proud and more confident.”
What surprised them: “How busy adults are… how tasks can take longer than expected… and how teams really work”
What they learned: “Working takes patience… I learned to listen carefully, follow instructions, and be more confident.”
Feedback from the Careers Hub
The students were praised for their professionalism, engagement, and willingness to take on challenging tasks. Their contribution has produced a valuable resource that will benefit schools and learners across the region.
Actions for Schools
Use the “Making it Meaningful” checklist (student-friendly version)
- Share with students before work experience activities
- Use it to set expectations and support preparation
- Encourage reflection after activities to reinforce learning
Final Thought
This experience demonstrates that meaningful encounters with the workplace can start early. With the right preparation and structure, even Year 7 students can develop confidence, insight, and a clearer understanding of different employment sectors.
South Midlands DRAFT LMI factsheets and Sector Guides – coming soon
South Midlands Careers Hub is working in partnership with John Paley, Resourceful Careers to create , 6 local authority LMI factsheets, 11 sector booklets, a staff guide, a parent/carer guide and some ready-made parent/school communications.
Before proceeding we would like the opportunity to share our initial ideas for feedback, further suggestions and potential case study/alumni/spotlight content and are offering the opportunity for you to join John Paley and some of the Careers Hub team on 16 June between 15.30 – 16.00.
The booklets will include alumni, employer and provider spotlights too and we welcome content suggestions from schools, special schools, alumni, employers, apprentices and providers across the South Midlands.
If you have not received and calendar invitation please email careershub@southmidlands.org.uk
The downloads below are very rough working drafts and are being shared as a discussion starter not a finished example and are not for wider use. The idea is that Careers Leaders can see the direction of travel and offer thoughts on what they would find most useful to include.
If you are unable to make it on 16/06 and have any feedback and or suggestions please email careershub@southmidlands.org.uk
Careers Hub events – Summer Term
Thank you to those of you that joined us for our latest CPD sessions and showcases – recordings and slides are available HERE
| iCeGs/University of Derby funded CL training, local cohort | 09/06 | 16.00 -16.30 |
| SMCH LMI sector guides resource drop in – call for feedback & contributions | 16/06 | 15.30 – 16.00 |
| West Northants CL Network Meeting | 25/06 | 10.30 – 12.30 |
| CPD Session – CPD & Showcase planning 2026/27 | 18/06 | 12.30 – 13.00 Repeated 16.00 – 16.30 |
| Beds CL Network Meeting | 24/06 | 9.30 – 11.30 |
| BM4 Showcase – Employing AI to audit the curriculum to drive engagement & and a whole school approach | 24/06 | 15.30 – 16.00 |
| WEX Employer Showcase Webinar | 25/06 | 15.30 – 16.30 |
| Inclusion Conference | 01/07 | 09.30 – 14.30 |
| MK CL Network Meeting | 09/07 | 8.30 – 11.00 |
Goodbye Compass, Hello Compass+!
From September, all Compass users will move to Compass+, a more stable and scalable platform that supports evaluating, managing and reporting on your careers provision.
Register for a webinar to explore Compass+ post-migration.
Wednesday 10th June 11am – 12pm
Tuesday 7th July 3.30pm – 4.30pm
OnTrack+
Thursday 11 June 15.30 – 16.30
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 before the webinar – OnTrack+
Other upcoming Compass+ CPD
Registration link : Getting ready for the new academic year with Compass+
Tuesday 16th June 2026, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Registration link : The Future Skills Questionnaire – 5 steps to success
Thursday 18th June 2026, 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Registration link : Using Compass+ effectively to support Careers Impact Internal Leadership Reviews
Registration link : Compass+ data and reporting
Thursday 2nd July 2026, 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Alan Milburn’s Young People and Work report
Alan Milburn’s Young People and Work report offers an assessment of the world of work for young people including the complex issues behind an escalating NEET crisis.
The report is wide ranging about causes and factors – welfare, care, health, labour market, education, but unequivocal about the impact of early and tailored careers support in preventing disengagement – as a precursor to young people becoming NEET – before it happens.
Opportunity to join the CEC Youth Advisory Group
The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) is looking for diverse group of young people aged 14–25, living in England, to join our Youth Advisory Group (YAG). Whatever your background or education journey, your voice matters. As a YAG member you will:
- Work alongside CEC to ensure young people’s voices shape decisions
- Use your lived experience to challenge and influence CEC’s work
- Develop your skills and access opportunities to help strengthen careers education for young people
Useful advice for newly qualified practitioners – Debbie Dymock
A great article here featured in the CDI’s recent Careers Matters magazine, written by Industry Partner to Wrenn school, Debbie Dymock of Northamptonshire Careers.
