The new Compass evaluation is now live on Compass and Compass+.
Over the past month, the South Midlands Careers Hub team has been reviewing the updated questions and working to ensure a consistent approach to self-evaluation across the South Midlands. This has included:
Workshops at the Careers Hub conference in September
Additional sessions during Career Leader Network meetings
Gathering frequently asked questions
While we’re making good progress, this is a significant change and one that will continue to evolve. We’re committed to supporting all schools and colleges through their first Compass evaluation under the new framework this term.
Thank you to everyone who has already booked their Compass evaluation support meeting – we’ll complete the evaluation together during that session. To ensure we can support you effectively and complete the Autumn evaluation within the allotted time, it is imperative that you review the compass questions in advance, to familiarise yourself with the updates and changes that have been made.
If you haven’t yet booked, please do so asap with your Careers Consultant to ensure timely support.
Link to CEC guidance for each type of Compass evaluation
Please be assured that this is a change for everyone, and we’re here to support you through it. We won’t have all the answers straight away and want to thank you for your patience as we continue to adapt and respond to emerging questions. Once the first round of evaluations is complete, we aim to produce a more comprehensive guide to support ongoing self-evaluation.
Upcoming Dates
For all upcoming dates please view our hub calendar.
For Info
New ATE resources webinar 02/12/25
Amazing Apprenticeships is working in partnership with The Careers & Enterprise Company to launch an exciting new suite of digital, adaptable Apprenticeships & Technical Education (ATE) resources for schools and colleges. Join this webinar to ensure you feel confident and knowledgeable ahead of presenting the resources in your setting.– Amazing Apprenticeships link to attend
Compass+ integrates with Unifrog to help support planning and delivering a progressive careers programme.
Explore how to use Compass+ and Unifrog together – Learn how to prepare effectively for exporting data from Unifrog into Compass+ – Understand the value of uploading this data into Compass+ – Know where to access further support and guidance.
Hello and a very warm welcome to the first edition of our newly formatted Education Newsletter! We know it’s already been a busy start to the academic year, and we’re excited to reconnect and keep you updated monthly moving forward. This refreshed newsletter will now feature three recurring sections to help you stay informed and organised:
– For Action – Key tasks and deadlines to support your careers provision. – For Info – Updates, resources, and insights to keep you in the loop. – Upcoming Dates – Events and opportunities to add to your calendar.
Our aim is to make this newsletter a useful, time-saving tool that supports your work and helps you stay ahead of what’s coming up. If there’s anything you’d like to see included in future editions, we’d love to hear from you. Thank you for all you do to inspire and guide your students – we’re looking forward to working more closely with you this year.
For Action
Autumn Term Compass Evaluations
The new compass evaluation questions will be live in Compass and Compass+ after October half term. As we head into adopting the updated Gatsby Benchmarks our team will be supporting all autumn term compass completions. If you have not already booked your compass evaluation support meeting for November/December please get in touch with your Careers Consultant asap. For (Central Bedfordshire & Bedford Borough mainstream schools please email careershub@southmidlaands.org.uk)
Updated Compass Questions
Read the updated compass questions
Ensure your leaderships team and governors are aware that autumn term compass evaluations will be a recalibration of data and that compass scores are expected to drop. Meeting the updated benchmarks will take strategic planning, a whole school approach and time – especially for benchmarks 5, 6 & 7 where there is now specific guidance for each benchmark defining meaningful. A copy of the letter we have sent to head teachers is available HERE
Share our new What Next & Send Guides
Please share our new Year 11 What Next in the South Midlands and Send post 16 options guides with students, staff and teachers. Links are available in the information section below
Add them to your website
Send a parent group call
Add to the next school newsletter
Add to next staff update
Ask pastoral team to add to tutor notices
Incorporate into existing PHSE lessons and post 16 transition plans
Upcoming Dates
Our first online CPD session this academic year is focusing on how to use inset days to drive careers. Careers Consultants Mandy Browning and Louise Lynch along with Nadia Mahmood, Careers & Opportunities Lead at Watling Academy will be sharing details of an inset session they created and delivered to teachers this September, focusing on the updates to Gatsby benchmark 4, that now require young people in every year and every subject to learn how the skills and knowledge developed in their subject helps them to gain entry to and be more effective workers within a wide range of careers.
14/10/25
How to use INSET days to drive careers
15/10/25
Career Leader Training, local cohort workshop 1
16/10/25
Career Leader Training, local cohort workshop 2
21/10/25
West Northants Careers Leader Network Meeting
21/10/25
Inclusion Community of Practice
23/10/25
North Northants Careers Leader Network Meeting
23/10/25
MK Careers Leader Network Meeting
03/11/25
Supported Compass evaluations begin
04/11/25
Careers Hub Induction
11/11/25
Career Leader Training, local cohort workshop 3
13/11/25
How to create a strategic careers plan
For Information
Updated Compass Questions
As may of you will already be aware in response to the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory guidance. Three new Compass evaluations will be available on Compass+ and Compass from the 03/11/25 November 2025 . You can view the updated questions and accompanying guidance for special settings, schools and FE & ITPs HERE
South Midlands Parent & Carer Survey 2025
South Midlands Careers Hub commissioned a survey to be conducted by Amazing Apprenticeships of parents and carers with secondary school-aged children, regarding their confidence, interest and awareness of post-16 and post-18 options. The survey generated 5,978 responses from across 53 schools.
Summary of recommendations
Support schools to consider and implement ways to increase parental awareness and understanding of the school’s careers programme, the support available, and how to access it.
Increase parent/carer access to local labour market information and build understanding of the skills and competencies being sought at a local level, by providing opportunities for parents/carers to interact with employers/providers.
Identifying proven approaches and curating quality resources to support schools to embed best practice and enhance the role of families in careers education.
Presentations, accompanying resources and delegate list available HERE
New Resource – Year 11 What Next in the South Midlands
We’re excited to launch the first edition of the Year 11 What Next Guide – a comprehensive resource created in collaboration with Resourceful Careers to support young people, parents/carers/families, and educators across Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire. Explore the guide HERE
New Resource for Parents & Carers of SEND Students: Understanding Post-16 Options
We’re proud to launch the South Midlands Parents’ Guide to Post-16 Options – a supportive, easy-to-follow resource created especially for families of young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). View the guide HERE
In this national online broadcast on work experience, you will hear from senior leaders across business, education, and local government share their vision for embedding modern work experience that inspires action, builds advocacy, and drives change.
Chaired by Olly Newton, Executive Director of the Edge Foundation, our expert panel will share experiences and explore system-level challenges for ensuring all young people have access to high-quality workplace experiences throughout their education, supported by nationally integrated and locally tailored careers support.
By tuning into the broadcast, attendees can:
Gain insight into senior leader strategic thinking on how best to harness collective effort to stimulate modern work experience opportunities across all sectors of our economy.
Develop a greater understanding of how equity of opportunities for young people will benefit business, education and local communities and the vital role we all play in making this a reality.
Be part of system change in transforming employer-led careers education, leading to a more informed, skilled future workforce.
The Careers & Enterprise Academyis the online home of careers leadership for Careers Leaders and all those who work with them to plan and deliver strategic, progressive careers programmes. New courses include understanding the updates to the Gatsby Benchmarks, tailored content for those working in primary settings, and working with Alumni.
Compass+ webinar recordings have moved to YouTube. You can find all of our previous webinar recordings, including Compass+ Bitesize, on our Compass+ Training webinars playlist 25/26.
Alternatively, just click the links below to view a webinar recording.
South Midlands Careers Hub Inclusion Conference 2025
On 1st July 2025, the South Midlands Careers Hub held its very first Inclusion Conference. It was truly inspiring to see such a passionate mix of educators from SEND settings, mainstream schools, FE SEND teams, employers, and wider stakeholders come together with a shared commitment: improving outcomes for young people with SEND. Throughout the day, we celebrated the incredible work happening across our network to ensure young people are confident, prepared, and supported as they take their next steps.
We were honoured to welcome a fantastic lineup of guest speakers and schools showcasing great practice, including:
Kelly Dillon, Senior Manager Progression, Transition and Removal of Barriers at The Careers & Enterprise Company: sharing national updates and resources for learners with SEND
Gareth Ivett, Principal of Creating Tomorrow College: promoting the incredible work being delivered across their colleges
Louise Worts, Assistant Head at Careers Lead at Daventry Hill School and Beccy Brown, Careers Lead at The Woodlands School MK: highlighting how they meet Provider Access Legislation in their schools
Lee Nelson, Work Experience Coordinator and Careers Lead at Woodlands Secondary School: delivering practical and creative ideas around embedding enterprise for learners with SEND
In addition, a huge thank you also goes to our inspiring panellists who discussed and explored two key themes that emerged from the Gatsby 10 Year review – parental engagement in careers, and meaningful encounters and experiences with employers. Our panellists included:
Roger Williams, Assistant Headteacher and Careers Lead at Ivel Valley School & College
Josh Bell, Deputy Headteacher and Careers Lead at the Academy of Central Bedfordshire
Lorraine Emerton, Partner & Recruitment, Social Values & Early Careers Section Manager at John Lewis Partnership
Sarah-Jane and Bertie from Creating Tomorrow College – two incredible young voices, sharing their insights and experiences
We would also like to thank Bedford Academy’s work experience students, Liam and Finlay, for capturing the day as our photographers.
This event marked the exciting launch of our Inclusion Community of Practice – a space for continued collaboration, learning, and innovation for our practitioners working in SEND. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed – this is just the beginning!
This term has been packed with exciting opportunities and achievements as students across Milton Keynes schools continue to develop vital skills for their futures.
Spotlight on Oakgrove School
Year 9: Took part in a dynamic STEM workshop with NiftyLift and emerged winners of the Robotics Competition!
Year 8: Engaged in a hands-on Enterprise Activity Day, exploring business ideas and building creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Year 7: Began their careers journey through PSHE and Unifrog, focusing on communication, problem-solving, and resilience.
DHL Employability Programme at Lord Grey School
24 Year 10 students were selected from 41 applicants to join this transformative programme.
Activities included employability workshops and a week at the Outward Bound Facility in Wales.
Students gained confidence and leadership skills—one student was even praised for stepping up as a group leader!
Speed Interview & Networking Events
Held across MK schools, including Ousedale School, where students connected with parents and local enterprise volunteers.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with students gaining valuable insights and confidence for the world of work.
Celebrating Excellence
Ousedale School: Re-awarded the Quality in Careers Standard for their continued commitment to high-quality careers education.
Kents Hill Park School: Achieved the QiC Standard for the first time—an exciting milestone for their careers team!
Fond Farewells
Emma Barnett-Vincent: Moving on to a new role at Northampton School in September—wishing her every success!
Karen (Stantonbury) and Renuka (Lord Grey): Retiring this year. Thank you for your passion and dedication—you’ve made a lasting impact!
Welcome Sophie Allan – Wootton Park School Sophie Allan joins Wootton Park School as the new Careers Officer, bringing a wealth of experience from Norfolk. She’s passionate about helping students explore and engage with the world of work. Welcome, Sophie!
CE Academy Business Breakfast On 18th June, CE Academy in Northampton hosted a vibrant Business Breakfast, welcoming 13 local employers. Attendees heard inspiring stories from Headteacher James Thomas, Careers Leader Paul Kairis, and former student-turned-staff Lorna. Industry Partner Dave Gilmour highlighted the school’s commitment to preparing students for diverse career paths. The event sparked new partnerships in sectors like healthcare, retail, security, and construction—offering students more real-world experiences. This model of schools organising a business breakfast to develop employer networks works well, giving schools the opportunity to build a story behind their students and their aspirations.
Young Inspirer Dillon’s Apprenticeship Workshop On 8th July, Dillon Considine led his first apprenticeship session at Malcolm Arnold Academy for Year 8 students. Sharing his personal journey, Dillon introduced students to apprenticeship pathways and sparked conversations about future choices. Key takeaway: only 25% of people end up in their dream job from school—so exploring options is key! Highlights included a “Week in the life of Dillon’s apprenticeship” and started to make them think that finding and applying for an apprenticeship is competitive. We had a look at the latest apprenticeship vacancies in Northampton, and they were surprised to find that there were not as many as they would have expected.
Dillon said “Honestly, it was very much out my comfort zone to be speaking with Year 8’s and being back in school, but I really enjoyed hearing their thoughts, having them engage and answering their questions.”
DSLV Academy at National Careers Challenge Finals Six students from DSLV E-ACT Academy in Daventry competed in the National Careers Challenge finals at London’s Barbican Centre. Senior Deputy Head Teacher Bev Maughan said “their hard work, creativity and ambition have brought them to this prestigious stage, and we couldn’t be prouder! “ The National Career Challenge offers a dedicated challenge per year group; each aligned to the Gatsby Benchmarks. Each challenge is designed in response to our sponsor’s real, business-critical needs, and students build the skills required for the world of work. Find out more here The National Careers Challenge | The Inspirational Learning Group
Celebrating Shona Smart – Corby Technical School Following two years of study, this term Careers Leader, Shona Smart was successful in completing her Level 6 Certificate in Careers Leadership. This qualification requires a long term commitment to study and is a significant achievement which supports Shona’s ability to continue her development of Corby Technical School’s Careers Programme. Well done, Shona! Congratulations!
Montsaye Academy: Provider Access Legislation
This term Year 8 & 9 students from Montsaye Academy, Raunds continued their apprenticeship journey supported by the Young Inspirers Project.
Having welcomed Engineer Apprentices from Tresham College to their school earlier in the term for an introduction and activity session, staff and students enjoyed the opportunity of experiencing an apprenticeship lesson at the Corby campus. The apprentices took the lead by delivering a workshop tour and demonstration of engineering equipment and materials.
The students greatly enjoyed this ‘hands on’ experience.
Also thank you to Tresham College – Engineering Department for providing students with access to the impressive facilities. It was a wonderful day and we are confident that students went away feeling extremely inspired about their future plans!
Please ensure you complete you final Compass evaluation by the the end of term.
South Midlands Careers Hub Annual Conference 2025 – 75% of places now booked
Date: Thursday 25th September 2025 Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm Venue: Delta by Marriott, Milton Keynes
This year’s theme, Careers Reimagined: Innovation, Impact, Inclusion reflects our mission to continuously improve careers provision and embed meaningful, modern work experience into every young person’s journey.
Good morning, we are looking forward to seeing many of you tomorrow at our first Inclusion Conference. To those of you that have booked to attend final reminder to let us know if you can no longer make it as we still have a waiting list.
For Action
South Midlands Careers Hub Annual Conference 2025 – priority bookings now open!
Date: Thursday 25th September 2025 Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm Venue: Delta by Marriott, Milton Keynes
This year’s theme, Careers Reimagined: Innovation, Impact, Inclusion reflects our mission to continuously improve careers provision and embed meaningful, modern work experience into every young person’s journey.
What to Expect
Inspiring keynotes
Interactive workshops
Collaborative networking
Opportunities to shape the day – tell us what content and workshops you’d like to see!
A full agenda and the opportunity to sign up for specific workshops will be published in mid July.
One week of priority booking for South Midlands Career Leaders remaining, book now here.
Compass Time!
As we head towards the end of term, please plan in time to complete what will be your final compass evaluation against the original Gatsby Benchmarks.
Please be aware that from May 2025, additional questions have been added to the Benchmark 6 section of Compass evaluations to establish a national baseline to support measuring progress against the future work experience guarantee policy. These questions do not contribute towards an institution’s Gatsby Benchmark score. We have added the additional questions in the ‘For Information’ section below.
In September Compass evaluations will be paused until after Autumn 2025 half term, at which point the questions will be updated to reflect the updated benchmarks. The new questions are currently being piloted nationally and the schools in our hub that have engaged with Peer to Peer reviews have been invited to express an interest in being part of that testing.
Last call – Hub Buddy requests
As we mentioned in our statutory guidance briefings, we are pairing up professionals supporting careers in schools and colleges across our six local authority areas. If you or a member of staff at your school would like a Hub Buddy please complete a request here by 03/07 as we will be pairing people up and sending out introductions on Friday 4/07.
We have had a few questions about where to find the updated Gatsby ‘making it meaningful’ checklists you can find these on the Gatsby website (senior leader summary, pages 6 & 7). To make these easier to find, we have added to our FAQ Padlet under BM6 & 7.
Upcoming Dates
Hub Induction – today, 30/06 15.30 – 16.15 link to join here
Employer Engagement masterclass 09/07/25 15.45 – 16.45 link to join here
Career Leader Training – local cohort – register your EOI here
17/09 @16.00 – Information webinar including course content, sign up funding conditions
Part one – workshop 1 – 15/10/25
Part one – workshop 2 – 16/10/25
Part one – workshop 3 – 11/11/25
For Information
As mentioned earlier, from May 2025, additional questions have been added to the Benchmark 6 section of Compass evaluations to establish a national baseline to support measuring progress against the future work experience guarantee policy. These questions do not contribute towards an institution’s Gatsby Benchmark score.
The additional questions are;
Approximately what proportion of pupils have accessed a variety of meaningful workplace experiences by the end of KS3 totalling:
5 or more days, or equivalent
3-4 days, or equivalent
2 or less days, or equivalent
No workplace experiences
2. Approximately what proportion of FSM pupils have accessed a variety of meaningful workplace experiences by the end of KS3 totalling:
5 or more days, or equivalent
3-4 days, or equivalent
2 or less days, or equivalent
No workplace experiences
3. Approximately what proportion of pupils have accessed a variety of meaningful work placements by the end of KS4 totalling:
5 or more days, or equivalent
3-4 days, or equivalent
2 or less days, or equivalent
No workplace experiences
4. Approximately what proportion of FSM pupils have accessed a variety of meaningful workplace experiences by the end of KS4 totalling:
With the updated statutory guidance for careers finally being released, this week we are mostly focusing on the our plans to support you with the implementation of this, along with some key dates, new resources and info on ILRs and peer to peer reviews.
Key Dates
20/05/25
15.00 – 16.00
Using social media to develop parental engagement, James Wilmott, Priory Academies Trust
The guidance makes it clear that from September 2025 DfE expects all institutions should adopt the updated benchmarks. It also places a great deal of emphasis on meaningful and reducing barriers.
The Benchmark 6 section confirms the governments intention to introduce two weeks worth of work experience0 across key stages 3 and 4 and makes it clear that from September 2025 schools should begin planning towards this.
At the moment we are taking time to absorb the guidance and will be feeding back on key takeaways and actions at our briefings after half term. In the mean time have added a bit of a visual below.
PAL (Provider Access Legislation) is mentioned 15 times
Strategic 18 times
Disadvantage 14 times
Meaningful 39 times
Leadership 31 times
FSQ (Future Skills Questionnaire) 8 times
Gatsby Benchmarks 29 times
Work Experience 31 times
Parents 36 times
For Information
If you want further details of Internal Leadership Reviews take a look at our masterclass here, which includes key differences between ILRs and the Quality in Careers standard.
If you are interested in taking part in a Peer to Peer review we still have a few slots available this term and are taking EOIs for next term too. To find out more take a look here and email careershub@southmidlands.org.uk if you are interested or speak to your careers Consultant
We hope you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend. As we (still) await the updated statutory guidance a slimmed down newsletter for you this week. To continue to help you prepare for the upcoming changes we have created a useful summer term checklist for careers leader full of useful links and information. There are also links to slides and recording of last weeks AI masterclass and our Term 3 Kick off meeting and an exciting announcement about our inclusion conference taking place later this term.
Inclusion Conference – we’re pleased to announce that the South Midlands Careers Hub will be hosting an Inclusion Conference on Tuesday 1st July 2025 at The Forest Centre, Station Rd, Marston Moretaine. This will be for Careers Leaders and Industry Partners working in Special schools and Alternative Provision settings. There will also be a limited number of places available to SENDCos working in mainstream settings (with the option for the careers leader to also attend as their plus one)
The conference will focus on preparing for the updated Gatsby Benchmarks and ensuring compliance with Provider Access Legislation, with a SEND-specific focus. In addition, there be guest speakers, interactive workshops, exhibitor stalls and networking opportunities. A registration link via Microsoft Forms will be shared directly shortly, but in the meantime, please save the date or if you work in mainstream share with your SENDCo
For Information
Term 3 Kick off – narrated slides from our term 3 kick off meeting can be found here and download below
Careers Hub Industry Newsletter – you may have seen our reimagined industry newsletter on Linked In – copy available below, please share with employers and volunteers in your network
CPD Opportunities
Learn more about key product functionality and how it can effectively support you to make important strategic decisions about careers delivery in your institution. Click on the webinar titles below to register
Thursday 8th May, 3.30pm – 4.30pm – Delivery, analysis and impact of Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ) – https://bit.ly/3DL2aAJ Thursday 15th May, 3.30pm – 4.30pm – Preparing for and recording a Careers Impact internal leadership review – https://bit.ly/4jdUHJv Tuesday 20th May, 3.30pm – 4.30pm – Compass+ : Using data intelligence – https://bit.ly/3FVM47K Thursday 22nd May, 3.30pm – 4.30pm – Using Compass+ effectively to support learners with SEND – https://bit.ly/3FMByjc
If you are unable to attend a webinar, register for the webinar anyway and you will be emailed a copy of the webinar recording after the session
Webinar to Support Current Unqualified Staff in School who wish to train to teach and gain their QTS – 21st May 5-6pm – Please share details below with staff in your school
This webinar is designed to support those currently working in school who do not hold a QTS qualification: It will explain
The different routes available to enable these staff members to train to teach. This will include tuition fee and apprentice routes.
How The Postgraduate and Teacher Apprenticeship Degrees work.
How the funding for these and other QTS courses work.
Welcome back, we hope you had a great break and are well rested and energised for the term ahead.
Next week we will be sending out our latest industry newsletter so please add your volunteer requests by the end of the week. Increase engagement by adding a photo from a previous event or your school/college logo. Remember to ensure you give enough information and a full description of the activity easily understood by someone outside of education, offer flexibility where possible for volunteers that may not be available for the duration of the event and include the aim of the event and how it will impact students.
Celebrating Success
There were some really impactful employer engagement events taking place last term across our careers family, so before we dive into into another hectic term lets celebrate the hard work of our careers family with some examples of whats been happening across the hub. If you have a success story that you would like to share please let your Careers Consultant know.
Schools in Milton Keynes have had an incredibly productive term! The variety of career opportunities and initiatives such as workplace experiences, alumni talks, and employer visits, are fantastic ways to engage students and broaden their horizons.
The Hospitality Connect project seems particularly impactful, with its hotel visits, assemblies, and chef sessions. It’s wonderful to hear that younger students at Ousedale School had the chance to interact with a hotelier, sparking curiosity about careers in hospitality. Engaging students at KS3 is a great strategy to help them explore future options early on.
Following up with attendance at transition evenings for parents and carers ensures that everyone involved has the chance to learn about the various roles and pathways in the industry. It’s clear that the schools in Milton Keynes are dedicated to providing comprehensive career education and support. 🌟
The Duston School: Teacher CPD/Employer Engagement
Duston School kicked off 2025 in style with an employer/teacher engagement event, supported by over thirty five employers who turned out on a, quite frankly, horrible winter morning to engage with educators sharing insights into their industry sectors. The South Midlands Careers Hub were delighted to be part of the planning process.
The team at Duston, Principal, Sam Strickland, Careers Leader, Diane Fisher, Careers SLT Link, Simon Beal, Industry Partner, Helen Russell and staff body warmly welcomed the business community, facilitating meaningful conversations.
Apprenticeship Volunteers Inspire Year 9 Students at Manor School, Raunds
Six dedicated apprentice volunteers took centre stage at Manor School in Raunds, offering Year 9 students an insightful exploration of apprenticeship opportunities. Max Deans of KIER Construction, George Smith of Weetabix, Hannah-Louise Iddon of Pinsent Masons, Hannah Gonzalez of Delapré Abbey, Joshua Barnett of easipc Services Ltd, and Jaeceena Anderson of Greatwell Homes shared their personal journeys, highlighting the value and versatility of vocational career paths.
The event provided an interactive platform where students engaged directly with the panel, asking their own questions and receiving authentic, first-hand insights into apprenticeship life. This two-way exchange ensured a meaningful and comprehensive understanding of apprenticeships, equipping students with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their futures.
“This is a fantastic example of the power of engagement between industry and education,” said a spokesperson from the event. “Thanks to the support of local business leaders, young people can explore all post-16 and post-18 pathways, enabling well-informed decision-making about their careers.”
George Smith from Weetabix shared his thoughts on the event, describing it as “well-organised, simple, and effective.” He encouraged others to get involved as Young Inspirers, stating, “Great way to express apprentice work that you may do, letting the younger generation know how good they can be instead of just considering university’.” Reflecting on his experience, he added, “It was great fun, improved my public speaking skills, and helped me build valuable workplace connections.”
Max Dean of KIER Construction added “I really enjoyed being on the young inspirers panel again, the students were great and really engaged throughout the session. Once the ball got rolling they were more confident to ask more questions. All information and support was provided prior to the day, including a virtual meeting with the other panellists and school staff – making arriving on the day far easier.”
“It’s really great for students to see lived experiences and have the opportunity to speak to people that were once sat in the same assembly hall as them, even in Year 9, it’s so important to start the conversations around careers and apprenticeships. This is the second time I have been on a young inspirer panel and both times I have returned to work feeling proud and like I have helped make a difference.”
Year 8 Speed Networking – Wrenn School
A fantastic Speed Networking event with Year 8 students at Wrenn School. In this fast-paced format, employers had just three minutes with small groups of students as they tried to guess their jobs , well done to Joanne Bolton for organising such an excellent event!
Testimonial from Mike Foster, Digital Service Delivery Manager, Tresham College
‘Participating in the speed networking event with Year 8 students at Wrenn School was a truly rewarding experience. Seeing such enthusiastic young minds eager to learn, ask insightful questions, and explore different career paths was inspiring. One of the most engaging aspects was when students had the opportunity to guess the jobs we do—I was genuinely surprised by how quickly many of them identified mine!
Testimonial from Rebecca Drage: Senior IT Technician Tresham College
‘It was particularly meaningful to see the growing recognition that women belong in STEM fields. Compared to just a few years ago, it’s amazing how perceptions have evolved, opening doors for young girls to envision their futures in science and technology. I left feeling both inspired and hopeful for the future, knowing that events like these play a crucial role in shaping aspirations and breaking barriers.’
Northamptonshire Business Network
Careers Coordinator at Latimer Arts College, Vicky Stanyon and Industry Partner, Vikki Overson, U-Work Professional took the plunge into the world of networking by attending the Northamptonshire Business Exhibition, held on Thursday 6th March at Wickstead Park. There they met Simon Cox, Director of NNBN (Northamptonshire Business Network) and Head of Policy for Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce who said, ‘I can’t stress how important it is for local businesses to support the future of tomorrow and share our business knowledge and experience with students’. Well done to both Vicky and Vikki for stepping out of their comfort zone and raising the profile of the Latimer Arts College careers programme.
Sustainability workshop at Chiltern Academy
Chiltern Academy and their Enterprise Adviser from London Luton Airport (LLA), Hannah Dunford, have collaborated to develop and deliver a highly impactful sustainability-focused careers event. This initiative culminated in a dedicated Sustainability Workshop held at LLA’s Head Office on Thursday, November 7th, coinciding with Green Careers Week. Fifteen Year 9 pupils were selected to participate in this unique experience.
The workshop was carefully designed to educate students about the far-reaching effects of climate change and, crucially, the skills needed for climate adaptability in the modern workplace, specifically within the context of an airport environment. The students had the invaluable opportunity to hear from three guest speakers working in sustainability-related roles at LLA. These professionals shared their experiences and insights, providing a real-world perspective on career opportunities within the sector and the diverse entry routes available. This direct interaction with industry professionals provided the students with tangible examples of how their studies can translate into future careers.
The Chiltern Academy pupils embraced the project brief with enthusiasm, embodying the school’s “Chiltern Champion Values.” They engaged actively in the workshop, generating outstanding ideas to improve sustainability at LLA. Student feedback highlights the event’s success. Adwoa noted, “We learned lots about sustainability in the aviation industry and what LLA does to reduce their impact on climate change. We found out how exactly climate change affects the world including the impact on travel and local areas. We then came up with ways to solve problems the airport is facing.” Abi commented, “My opinion on the trip was that it was very interesting because we got to learn about some of the jobs that have an important role in Luton airport and their experiences about their jobs. They showed us how climate change can affect Luton airport and the ways they have tried to adapt to it.” Another student, NE, described the day, saying, “We talked to professionals about their jobs: there were Sustainability Performance Enhancers, Habitat & Painting Manager, Executive Event Planner and much more. We did a competition on who had the best poster idea on how to improve sustainability at the airport and some people even did a product that would help. We got green water bottles and pens as a reward. We learnt a lot of information about how the airport doesn’t just take people to destinations but how they try to fix the environment with specialist workers. Today was really amazing and it will help me in the future to know more about sustainability.”
The workshop not only provided valuable insights into sustainability within the aviation industry but also encouraged students to think creatively and critically about solutions to environmental challenges. The collaborative approach between Chiltern Academy and LLA, facilitated by their Enterprise Adviser, has provided these students with a significant and inspiring experience, potentially influencing their future career paths. This project has benefited significantly from the collaborative partnership with Hannah, whose experience and expertise have been instrumental in enriching students’ aspirations. Furthermore, the collaboration has provided a valuable opportunity for Hannah to develop her facilitation skills, while simultaneously enhancing the career leader’s understanding of local labour market information (LMI) and relevant initiatives.
Key dates for your diary
Summer term kick off meeting
28/04/25
Modern Work Experience consultation – Northampton
21/05/25
Modern Work Experience Consultation – Bedfordshire
04/06/25
Modern Work Experience consultation – Milton Keynes
12/06/25
New Career Leader Induction
16/06/25
Bedford Borough CL network meeting
13/05/25
Central Bedford CL network meeting
16/05/25
Luton CL network meeting
09/06/25
MK CL network meeting
05/06/25
North Northants CL network meeting
13/05/25
West Northants CL network meeting
22/05/25
For Action
If you haven’t done so already please share details of 4YP’s Careers Guidance Community Group’s next meeting with your Careers Adviser.
CDI Webinar: Update on Post-16 qualifications reform, Wednesday 30 April, 11 am, online. Want to understand what’s changing from 2026 and how it affects learners? Post-16 qualifications are under reform, with decisions underway about which routes and subjects will be available from 2026. Hear from the DfE on level 3 reformed qualifications – from AAQs to technical routes – and how these can be combined for learners. NCFE will also share how they support providers and Higher Education Institutions in their role as an awarding organisation. book here
Careers in racing work with 2 training providers the National Horseracing College (in Doncaster) & The British Racing School in Newmarket This is where the apprenticeships will start with a residential stay and is available from 16 years-old. You work towards a Level 2 Diploma in Race Horse Care on the Foundation Course this would incorporate a residential stay at one of the training providers where you would learn to care & race ride. Once completed there you would then start your apprenticeship at a trainer in the industry. Both training providers have open days which you can visit the facilities and find out about the courses.
Careers in Racing also showcase the vast mix of jobs you can do in the sport. This ranges from media, marketing, events, sales but first part jobs on a racecourse such as hospitality & seasonal staff. We can also participate in careers fairs, events in person or with online webinars explaining about all the roles and how someone can find their career path in the sport. We also have plenty of online content so if your interested in that please let me know.
They are hosting several Explore Racing Days up and down the country this is an opportunity for guests to come along and find out about the options and careers paths in the sport on the racecourse. You can keep an eye on the following page for this https://careersinracing.com/explore-racing-days/ or if you have a group keen and local to a course we can arrange something. Plus we have early careers programmes that young people can also get involved in, one of which is our Step on Track Programme which can be more of a bespoke day designed for your group or network.
Useful contact for British Racing School British Racing School – Naomi Lawson Naomi.Lawson@brs.org.uk
Latest Army Careers Newsletter from Beds / Northants outreach is now available to download
We hope you have enjoyed a successful start to the 2024-25 academic year. We kicked of the year with a bang with our annual Careers Hub conference in partnership with the South Midlands Growth Hub, and the launch of our website. More information below!
Careers Hub Updates
Staffing We have appointed a new Strategic Hub Lead for the Careers Hub. We are delighted to say that Yvonne Ashby will be taking on the role. We will therefore be recruiting for an Operational Hub Lead in the near future – watch this space!
Term 1 Kick Off If you missed it, please do take a look at the slides from our online term 1 kick off meeting. This is something we will be running at the start of each term and is a 30 minute overview of all of the headlines for the coming term.
Career Leader Survey We would appreciate it if any Careers Leaders could take the time to complete our Career Leader survey
Website Launch We are really excited to launch our new South Midlands Careers Hub website. Please do visit and familiarise yourself with the content. Resources will continue to be added over the coming weeks and months (you may need to register on the site to access some of these), and we would like to encourage our schools and colleges and partners to use the site to share their own news and events. Some key links below:
Partner News/Events (please do not use this to request volunteers or exhibitors for events), partners please upload events/news such as open day dates and good news stories: Partner News / Events – South Midlands Careers Hub
Annual Conference – 24.09.2024 Thank you to the 203 delegates who joined our annual conference this month, to our keynote speaker Ryan Gibson from the Gatsby Foundation, and to our amazing panellists and exhibitors on the day. We had some great feedback from delegates and have including some comments below. Access the slides from the day here.
‘Great to network and meet from different sectors. Good to hear about developments coming up and things to look out for. It highlights the level of support that is available’
‘First time at one of these events. It was great to meet people and I found the workshops really informative’
‘Discussions about bridging the skills gap with employers, panellists and education was insightful and will help in my role as an Industry Partner’
Support for Careers Leaders
New Career Leader induction with Hub Leads – Thursday 24th October 3:30pm – 4:30pm. Email careershub@semlep.com to be sent the meeting link
This academic year our amazing Careers Hub Ambassadors Stacey Morris, Lee Nelson and Alyce Harriswill be offering small group online support sessions covering the areas below. These will last between 30 and 60 minutes. If you are interested, please add your details and area of interest here.
SEND – Embedding Careers in the Curriculum BM3 & BM4
SEND – Enterprise projects BM6
SEND – First steps in employer engagement BM5
SEND – Cementing employer relationships BM5 & 6
SEND – Valuing your work all BMs
Mainstream – Developing a whole school stable careers programme BM1
Mainstream – support to embed LMI within curriculum learning and parental engagement BM3
Mainstream – Meaningful ways to enable encounters with employers and employees and link to the curriculum. BM4 & 5
