We hope you had a good half term break. It was great to see so many fantastic events taking place across the hub during National Apprenticeships Week, raising the awareness and uptake of apprenticeships and T-levels.
Thank you to those of you that joined us for our spring term provider showcase. A link to the recording is HERE and presentations are available to download below.
Career Impact System – Internal Leadership Review& Peer to Peer Reviews 39% of institutions across the South Midlands have now undertaken the internal leadership review process to inform their strategic plans for the development of careers within their school/college. The internal leadership review is designed to be undertaken annually, allowing you to reflect on the maturity of your careers offer and whole school approach. Undertaken on an annual basis it will support you to see progress and should be followed up with a peer-to-peer review every three years. Our aim is for every institution in the South Midlands to have taken part in a peer to peer review and be on a 3 year review cycle by 2028/29.
What is a Careers Impact internal leadership review?
59 schools and colleges have already completed Internal Leadership Reviews – if you have not done this yet please reach out to your careers consultant for advice and support asap and take a look below at how this can help ensure careers is embedded in the school/college culture and leadership priorities. Everything you need to know and links to resources and guides can be found HERE
The careers impact internal leadership review needs a collaborative approach and is a reflection on the maturity of careers leadership across your school, special school or college. There is limited benefit in completing this independently without the input of key stakeholders.
Who should take part? all those involved in the distributed leadership of careers should be involved in 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
What is a Peer to Peer Review?
Peer-to-peer review days
Engaging in a careers impact peer-to-peer review supports the quality assurance of careers provision and encourages continuous improvement aligned to school, special school or college improvement priorities.
The hub will facilitate peer-to-peer reviews with schools who have already undertaken an internal leadership review. Three schools will participate in the peer-to-peer review.
A member of the senior leadership team must be present from the school to participate on the day
If you have completed your internal leadership review, or are planning to and would like to book in for a Peer to Peer review this May or June speak to your Careers Consultant asap.
“Today has been incredibly useful – I have gained an understanding that I need to drive this more whole school from SLT level. I can see how it is linked into raising attainment and other key priority areas.”
Senior Leader (2025) Following involvement in a peer-to-peer review
24/02
14.00 – 16.00
FE COP
25/02
9.30 – 11.30
MK Cornerstone Employer Group meeting
26/02
9.00 – 11.00
MK Career Leader Network Meeting
02/03
Spring compass evaluations begin
03/03
9.30 – 11.30
Northants Cornerstone Employer Group meeting
04/03
9.30 – 11.30
Central Bedfordshire Career Leader Network Meeting
OnTrack+ is an early insight feature within Compass + that supports sustained learner engagement and Post-16 transition. The feature has been designed to better support early identification of young people from Years 7 to 11 who may be at risk of disengaging from learning and ultimately becoming NEET (Not in Education Employment of Training).
Growing Learner Voice – FSQ data analysis and reporting
Join this small interactive group session to meet with our expert Compass+ trainer to:- – Understand the benefits of using the FSQ reporting feature – Learn how to analyse the data effectively, selecting specific criteria and learner characteristics – Identify how to use FSQ responses to track progress for individual learners and demonstrate how careers activities are having an impact on careers learning – Understand how to identify individual learners who may require more targeted support and intervention – Know where to access further training and support. You can ask our expert any questions you have about FSQ, you may find it helpful to be logged into your Compass+ account during the session. These meetings are offered on an invitation only basis and will be small groups, to allow attendees to have active discussion and sharing of best practice.
You can choose to attend one or more of the following sessions.
This free-of-charge webinar will enable delegates to understand how vocational policy has evolved to where it is now and how it is likely to evolve in the immediate future. In this fast-changing vocational landscape, the webinar will include the very latest government updates on T Levels implementation and planning and how T Levels link with new AAQs and the proposed V Levels.
Learning outcomes – at the end of the workshop all delegates will:
understand how today’s post-16 vocational landscape has been shaped by government policies and priorities for skills and training since the turn of the century
understand the likely implications of the Government white paper on Post 16 and skills (October 2025), and the Curriculum and Assessment Review (published in November 2025) on their own school’s vocational and technical curriculum, particularly on AGQs such as BTECs.
be aware of the range of T Levels and their timeline for implementation
understand the key structure, content, assessment, awarding and grading of T Levels
consider what their own school’s or college’s learners need to know and understand about T Levels, in order for them to be able to make effective and fully-informed post-16 choices
‘Request a Volunteer’– volunteering opportunities page added to the drop-down menu for schools/colleges for easy access. Please add any events for this and next term asap, planning mailout to volunteers soon.
Hub CPD and Masterclasses– New page added to drop down menu ‘news & events’ with recordings and slides of our hub’s CPD.
Jobcentre, North Northamptonshire Council and Tresham College are hosting the popular Recruitment, Skills & Careers Event at Tresham College in Corby.
All are welcome, students, job seekers and those in the community already working and looking for a career change. Families and children are welcome at this event so please come along if you are unable to find childcare.
If you are a student and need support please as for Ady the Schools Adviser and he will be able to help and introduce you to the employers.
Local Employers are still confirming however usually there are around 30 stands with most being employers who have local vacancies.
Generation Logistics is a national careers awareness campaign designed to inspire young people aged 13–24 to consider the wide range of opportunities available in the logistics sector, while also equipping teachers and careers leaders with high-quality, curriculum-linked resources. The campaign challenges outdated perceptions of logistics and presents it as a dynamic, innovative and rewarding industry that plays a vital role in everyday life.
At the heart of the campaign is the Generation Logistics Hub for students, which helps young people explore their interests and discover potential career paths. Through the interactive “Find Your Future” quiz, over 100 real-life career stories, and engaging blogs, students can see how different roles connect across the sector using a clear “job families” approach. This helps them understand how skills in STEM, business, technology and communication all fit into the bigger logistics picture.
The Education Hub is specifically designed for teachers and careers leads, offering more than 50 free, curriculum-mapped classroom resources that link logistics to STEM subjects through short, practical activities. It also includes a downloadable careers booklet featuring salary information and case studies, vidcasts of real professionals discussing their roles, and a virtual careers fair that introduces students to tangible progression routes.
Schools can also request a Generation Logistics Ambassador: an industry professional who brings careers learning to life through talks, site visits and classroom sessions. Activity is amplified during Generation Logistics Week (w/c 22 June), creating a national focus on engaging and inspiring the next generation.
We hope you have all had a productive start to 2026 – The careers leaders across our 153 schools and colleges have been busy getting to grips with the update statutory requirements for careers alongside beginning to prepare for the governments intention to implement two weeks worth of work experience for all young people – more detail in the national update later on.
We have been busy too – we have recruited 3 new members of our team. Sam Baker joins us as an Operational Hub Lead, Olivia Dams as Careers Consultant – Work Experience and Lorraine Emerton Careers Consultant – Bedford Borough & Central Bedfordshire. We have some exciting projects taking place this year too, further details about how you can get involved to follow .
Finally, our schools currently need volunteers to support 14 career fairs, 1 apprenticeship evening, 1 industry immersion day, 1 mock interview day and 1 speed networking event. We have updated the Volunteering Opportunitiesarea of our website, adding this to the dropdown menu for employers/volunteers for easy access, so you can see opportunities to get involved. Please add to your favourites now and share across your networks.
Upcoming Volunteering Opportunities
Opportunities to support Careers Hub projects
Growth Sector Taster Experiences in partnership with The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG)
A school based modern work experience activity for students in years 7 & 8, (aged 11-13) designed to equip young people with essential career knowledge whilst providing an opportunity to develop sector-relevant employability skills. The Inspirational Learning Group (TILG) will provide 20 schools in the South Midlands region with resources to build their own interactive South Midlands Key Growth Sectors Taster Experience.
Schools will select up to 5 one hour workshops of their choice from from key growth sectors such as Advanced Manufacturing, Cyber Security, Creative Industries, Logistics and Agro-food which have been developed in conjunction with leading employers. These workshops will be delivered in school as part of a hands-on, carousel taster experience, providing students with an opportunity to apply their skills to sector specific challenges and activities.
How can Employers/Volunteers get involved? – Support the delivery of workshops. – Inform students of your own professional journey and the skills you use in your own role, – Provide students with 1:1 feedback as they engage in various sector- specific activities and employer-led challenges. – Opportunity to promote the various progression routes into each sector.
Making Work Experience Work – Live Business Challenge Delivered by Working Options in partnership with South Midlands Careers Hub
The Live Business Challenge is an in-school alternative to traditional work experience for students in year 9 (13-14) Students work in teams to respond to real business briefs from employers like yourselves, gaining hands-on experience and building their CVs.
Whats the commitment?
One half day school visit to launch the challenge, one half day visit to hear the pitches – provide a real, engaging brief. Visit a local school to introduce your company and the challenge. Share your business context and answer questions
Skills Workshops – optional involvement and delivery of 2 or 3 employability skills workshops or pitch judging.
No financial cost – just your time, challenge and expertise.
Exhibit your Apprenticeship & T Level opportunities for free at the ‘Opportunities on your Doorstep Virtual Careers Fair’ in partnership with Amazing Apprenticeships
Tuesday 12th May, 5.30pm – 7pm
What is the virtual careers fair? The Opportunities on your doorstep Virtual Careers Fair is a free event for exhibitors to showcase their apprenticeships and T Level opportunities to parents, carers and students who want to hear directly from local employers and training providers.
Who should exhibit – training providers of apprenticeships and/or T Levels or any employer based in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes with future opportunities who want to meet potential applicants.
How does it work? Each exhibitor has a dedicated breakout room. Attendees will rotate every 10 minutes to their chosen exhibitors to hear a presentation and have an opportunity for Q&A.
For more information, contact: Rebecca@Amazingapprenticeships.com
Complete the form HERE to secure your place to exhibit and showcase your opportunities by 17/03/26
Raising awareness of the logistics industry to a younger audience and plugging the significant skills gap. How can you do this and what are the benefits.
Raising awareness of the logistics industry to a younger audience and plugging the significant skills gap are two seismic challenges for the sector. Step forward the South Midlands Careers Hub, with the objective of building career ready young people, creating a brighter future for industry. So, join the CILT East Midlands as we showcase how the hub can help tackle the two underlying problems, in a practical and manageable way.
Presenters:
Clare Coles – Careers Consultant, South Midlands Careers Hub Vikki Morton – Careers Consultant, South Midlands Careers Hub Michelle Warner – CILT East Midlands Group Member David Gilmour -General Manager, Helix Carla Dufty – Careers Lead, Careers Lead, Abbeyfield School
Elaine Kendall or Kori Construction will also be sharing her approach to work experience and the gains for Business Leaders in the Construction industry and Empress Burgess, Degree Apprentice: Production team leader for Wincanton, now part of GXO, will be talking about her volunteering role as a ‘Young Inspirer’ and how this has helped her to develop confidence in public speaking in addition to sharing advice on researching careers, decision making and taking that first step into the workplace.
Schedule
Overview of a career’s hub.
A student’s perspective on the career journey.
The role of industry, through industry partners.
Understanding the part that school career’s department play.
Full guidance for Employers: Gatsby Benchmark updates available here. We have included some headlines below.
Defining Meaningful
The updated statutory guidance for careers clarified what meaningful looks like in practice, providing a simple to use checklist for employer encounters, experiences of workplaces and encounters with further and higher education. These checklists can be used as a helpful planning tool to maximise impact when volunteering in schools and colleges.
Encounters with employers and employees (Gatsby Benchmark 5) – an updated definition of ‘meaningful’ for Benchmark 5 clarifies that young people should encounter employers of various sizes and specialisms, and could focus on workplace skills or what it takes to be successful. There should also be time for learners to reflect on their learning afterwards.
A meaningful encounter will:
have a clear purpose, which is shared with the employer and the young person
be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the young person
have opportunities for two-way interactions between the young person and the employer
be followed by time for the young person to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through the encounter
Experiences of Workplaces (Gatsby Benchmark 6) – experiences of Workplaces – Pre-16 experiences of workplaces have been pluralised, rather than specifying a minimum requirement of at least one, highlighting the value of progressive experiences throughout a young person’s time in education.
A definition of ‘meaningful’ has now been added to experiences of workplaces and clarity that experiences can take many forms, including through visits to workplaces, work shadowing and/or work experience. It clarifies that virtual experiences can complement but not wholly replace in person experiences.
A meaningful experience will:
have a clear purpose, which is shared with the employer and the young person
be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the young person
involve extensive two-way interactions between the young person and employees
include opportunities for young people to meet a range of different people from the workplace
include opportunities for young people to perform a task set by the employer or to produce a piece of work relevant to that workplace
include the employer providing feedback to the young person about their work
be followed by opportunities for the young person to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through their experience
Schools, colleges and independent training providers (ITPs) can take into account any part-time work a young person may have, if it genuinely offers them a meaningful experience.
Encounters with Further and Higher Education (Gatsby Benchmark 7) now explicitly includes independent training providers and technical education. An expanded definition of ‘meaningful’ encounters notes they should have a clear agreed purpose, with appropriate learning outcomes, and involve two-way interaction and the opportunity to meet both staff and learners.
A meaningful encounter will:
have a clear purpose, which is shared with the provider and the young person
be underpinned by learning outcomes that are appropriate to the needs of the young person
involve a two-way interaction between the young person and the provider
include information about the provider, such as their recruitment and selection processes, the qualifications that provider offers and the careers these could lead to
describe what learning or training with the provider is like
be followed by opportunities for the young person to reflect on the insights, knowledge or skills gained through the encounter
‘Young people want more opportunities to experience a wider range of workplaces to help them to make more informed decisions about their future. So, in addition to the strengthened Gatsby Benchmark, the government is reforming work experience to break down barriers to opportunity so that every pupil will have the opportunity to take part in 2 weeks’ worth of work experience during key stages 3 and 4.‘
Implementing 2 weeks’ worth of work experience
Our vision is that 2 weeks’ worth of work experience will be based on the following set of principles, building on the benchmark 6 definition of meaningful.
Two weeks’ worth of work experience should be broken down into:
one weeks’ worth of work experience activities in years 7 to 9
one weeks’ worth of work experience placement(s) in years 10 to 11
Experiences should be aspirational and inspirational, giving young people the opportunity to access a wide range of career opportunities, aligned to their interests and talents, local skills needs and national growth sectors. Opportunity should go beyond the horizons of their immediate friends and family.
They should be co-designed and delivered in partnership with schools and involve two-way employer-pupil interaction.
Work experience activities in years 7 to 9
Work experience activities in years 7 to 9 should consist of multiple, varied and meaningful employer-led activities to explore different industries and careers and involve active engagement with a diverse range of employers, including small and medium sized enterprises. Activities could include:
multi-day work visits involving employer-set tasks or projects
work shadowing
in-person or virtual employer talks in the workplace, including technical demonstrations or tours of working premises.
These could be undertaken individually or as part of a group or class-based activity. Some or all of the activities can be in person, with virtual activities contributing but not replacing in person.
Work experience placement(s) in years 10 to 11
Work experience placement(s) in years 10 to 11 should allow pupils to experience a real working environment and begin to develop work-based skills and behaviours.
Pupils should be free to undertake their 5 days’ worth of work experience placement(s) in years 10 to 11 with more than one employer, irrespective of sector, and be able to spread their placement time across a number of days or weeks at any point during the year 10 to 11 curriculum. This might be advantageous to young people who are undecided on their careers interests, by offering scope to try more employers and sectors.
‘We expect that the work experience placement(s) in years 10 to 11 be in-person, but acknowledge that in exceptional circumstances meaningful hybrid or virtual approaches may be impactful in removing barriers to access. In those circumstances, we would expect best endeavours to use remote engagement alongside, but not instead of, in-person activity.
Planning work experience programmes
From September 2025, schools should be planning and, where able, reforming their work experience programmes according to these principles so that all pupils can benefit from the opportunities, development and learning that work experience provides.‘
Equalex Framework – The equalex framework, defines learning outcomes and objectives and allows educators to embed meaningful workplace experiences within a progressive whole school careers programme. Further details HERE
Let’s make it work: The Podcast Each episode shares practical insights, real examples and actionable takeaways – including a closer look at equalex, our framework for high-quality, progressive workplace experiences
Employer Standards – easily plan, improve and compare results for careers education outreach
The Employer Standards provide a clear framework to businesses of all shapes and sizes to maximise the impact of employer engagement with young people, ensuring mutual value and long-term business success. Take the 25 minute self assessment here
Celebrating Success
Celebrating an Inspiring Day with Volkswagen Group UK A huge thank you to Volkswagen Group UK for hosting an incredible Experience of the Workplace event for students. From practicing real interview skills, to meeting current apprentices, to discovering the amazing range of career pathways from Data and Business to IT, Motor Vehicle, and Finance, students were given invaluable insights into what their futures could look like. The team at VW created a welcoming, energising environment that truly sparked curiosity and ambition. Opportunities like this make a genuine difference, helping young people understand their strengths, grow in confidence, and explore the world of work in a meaningful way. Their fantastic apprenticeship scheme is about to launch – all in time for National Apprenticeship Week! Thank you, Volkswagen Group UK Ltd for inspiring the next generation and opening the door to such exciting possibilities
Mandy Browning, Careers Consultant Milton Keynes, South Midlands Careers Hub
It was an absolute pleasure to attend Kettering Science Academy this morning to meet six apprentices who shared their career journeys’ with students currently in Year 10. Assistant Principal & Careers Leader, Steven Scragg organised the Young Inspirers’ event in partnership with the South Midlands Careers Hub
This event forms part of the commitment for each school to promote apprenticeship and technical education. Real life insights provided by apprentices bring vocational learning to life and helps students to understand the breadth of options available to them.
Thanks also to our apprentices employers for supporting their attendance and involvement.
Claire Coles, Careers Consultant North Northants, South Midlands Careers Hub
What a brilliant morning at Stadium MK Year 9 students from different schools across the city went to Stadium MK. Huge thanks to the Milton Keynes Dons Community Trust team who continue to show what it means to be at the heart of the city – opening doors, inspiring young people and helping them build real work‑ready skills. In just a couple of hours, students explored teamwork, communication, confidence and problem‑solving in a setting that was supportive, inclusive and genuinely exciting. Mornings like this are such a powerful reminder of what’s possible when education and employers come together. There are so many flexible ways for employers to offer workplace experiences. Two days or two hours, in‑school or on‑site, there’s always a way to give back and inspire future talent. Be part of the change
Mandy Browning, Careers Consultant Milton Keynes, South Midlands Careers Hub
Do you have a good news story to share – upload your news story direct to our website HERE
Year 8 pupils from The Duston School were given a hands-on introduction to the world of construction and the built environment during a special Construction Industry Day held at the school last week.
The event began with a surprise personalised video message from architect and television presenter George Clarke, best known for Amazing Spaces. In his message, George spoke about his own rewarding career in construction, the huge range of opportunities available across the sector, and encouraged students to “dream big” as they explored different career paths throughout the day.
The day featured a series of interactive employer-led workshops, giving pupils the chance to work with industry professionals, take part in challenges, and learn about real-world careers in design, engineering, planning, and construction.
Workshops were delivered by:
The Qube, Northampton College, The Royal Town Planning Institute, Travis Perkins, Wienerberger, and Euro Towers Ltd.
Feedback from both pupils and parents has been extremely positive, with students describing the day as “amazing”, “inspiring”, and “helping me think about careers I didn’t know existed”. Parents have also praised the event for opening their children’s eyes to new possibilities and igniting conversations at home about future careers.
The school also thanked Wienerberger and Miller Homes Ltd for donating prizes for the Stars of the Session student awards, and Greencore for generously providing lunch for all visiting employers.
For more information about The Duston School’s careers programme or to get involved in future events, contact dfisher@thedustonschool.org.
We hope you have had a good start to the year. We welcome Sam Baker, who has joined us as Operational Hub Lead and Lorraine Emmerton who joins us on 02/02 as our Bedfordshire Careers Consultant. Find out more about them in the term 2 kick off slide deck.
Huge shout out to everyone that took part in Peer to Peer reviews last week! Great collaboration by the 11 schools and special schools that took part – Abbeyfield School, Academy of Central Bedfordshire, Challney High School for Girls, Isebrook School, Lord Grey, Maplefields Academy, Sandy Secondary School, Sir Herbert Leon, The Duston School, The Gateway School and Wrenn School.
'Really enjoyed today and myself and James got loads out of it. Lots of thought provoking conversation and lots of ideas moving forward.' Paul Lamb, Maplefields Academy
'A brilliant day looking at the strategic priorities for our provision and alignment with broader school development priorities.' Shana Iqbal, Challney High School for Girls'
'The peer-to-peer review was extremely valuable and provided an excellent opportunity for collaborative reflection and professional learning. We began by sharing the context of our schools, including our careers priorities, leadership structures, and the time and resources invested into our provision. This opened up a productive discussion around institutional aims, strengths, and the challenges we each face in delivering high‑quality careers education.
Hearing about Duston School’s approach allowed us to compare practice, celebrate areas of success, and identify meaningful points for development. Together, we agreed one clear strength and three achievable development areas, giving us a focused plan for continuous improvement.
Overall, the review was constructive, supportive, and highly beneficial to both me as a careers leader and our SLT. It reinforced the importance of collaboration across schools and highlighted shared commitments to raising the standard of careers provision for all students. Thank you again for facilitating such a purposeful professional exchange' Carla Dufty, Abbeyfield School
Thanks to those of you that joined us for our spring term kick off and Benchmark 2 & LMI CPD session. Slides available to download below, recording of spring term kick off HERE and BM2 & LMI recording HERE
We are now really close to over half of our schools completing their internal leadership review. 48% of schools and colleges across the region have already completed theirs – have you? The Internal Leadership Review, available on Compass and Compass+ looks inward at leadership, governance, and strategic impact – how careers education is embedded in the school/college culture and leadership priorities.
If you have completed your ILR, or are planning to and would like to book in for a Peer to Peer review – see available dates below!
RONI feature coming soon – launching soon – new Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI) it has been designed to better support early identification of young people from Years 7 to 11 who may be at risk of disengaging from learning and ultimately becoming NEET The feature isn’t live in Compass+ yet but you can still read the guidance below for reference, we also encourage you to review your data-processing arrangements to ensure you are ready to access the feature.
• Learn about the different apprenticeship programs/offer within Morgan Sindall Group
• Gain an insight from current apprentices and T level Students
• Get Hints and Tips from our HR Partner
Opportunity to join the 4YP careers team for an hour of discussion, reflection, networking and information as we gather online to improve our shared knowledge and our practice. Wednesday 11th February at 3.30pm. 💡 This term’s topic: Exploring career guidance strategies for supporting with special educational needs in mainstream settings. All Level 6 or trainee Level 6 Career Advisers and Coaches working with young people across our area welcome. Please RSVP info@4ypuk.com at your earliest convenience and we will send all participants a Teams link to join.
STEM Opportunities update – please share with STEM lead and any other relevant staff
STEM Learning’s 2026 placements programme is open. Next summer, eligible Year 12 or equivalent students can participate in a hands-on UK workplace experience. Students benefit from a bursary, and STEM Learning takes care of all the logistics, from securing placements to providing resources and support – so you can focus on encouraging participation. For further details, visit STEM Learning’s website or contact the programme team directly via students@stem.org.uk.
STEM Learning’s Spring mentoring now ready for sign ups a chance for your students to join STEM Learning’s high-impact mentoring programme launching in February. It’s open to young people aged 13–19, completely free, simple to promote, and fully supported throughout. Discover more here or contact students@stem.org.uk to see how to get your students involved.
Winter virtual national Professional careers forum 27/01/26 15.30 – 16.30 Hosted by Julie Poppleton, Director of careers at Terrance Chase Academy. For a meeting link email J.Poppleton@chaseterraceacademy.co.uk Guest speakers include Emma Bridge IDP, Katherine Jennick, – Whats My Strength, Romario Ellis – The Outer Circle, and Matthew Williams – Futures for all.
ERIC’s Netflix-style on-demand library of creative career talks – For National Apprenticeship Week & National Careers Week, ERIC is centralising talks designed for schools, colleges and universities to help students aged 14–21 explore creative career pathways.
👉 Library launching Monday 9 February to kick off National Apprenticeship Week 👉 More talks dropping Monday 2 March for National Careers Week 👉 The library will be available all year round, with new talks added regularly 👉 Register your school, college or university now to get access and launch-day updates
‘Request a Volunteer’– volunteering opportunities page added to the drop-down menu for schools/colleges for easy access. Please add any events for this and next term asap, planning mailout to volunteers soon.
Volunteering Opportunities– added to the dropdown menu for employers/volunteers for easy access, so they can see opportunities for them to get involved in. Please share with any of your Industry Champions/volunteers.
Hub CPD and Masterclasses– New page added to drop down menu ‘news & events’ with recordings and slides of our hub’s CPD.
Phew – what a term it’s been with the implementation of the refreshed Gatsby Benchmarks, the updated statutory guidance and the updated Compass evaluation too!
Thank you to all of you that joined us last week for our first online Modern Work Experience Showcase 03.12.2025. The recording and slides are available on the newly updated HUB CPD & Masterclasses area our our website HERE along with recording and slides from our Benchmark 1: Frameworks and Tools 27.11.2025 session, CPD session, SMCH Twilight Webinar: Careers in Radiotherapy 18.11.2025, Mid Term 1 Kick Off 05.11.2025, and How to use Inset Days to Drive Careers 14.10.2025
We also hosted our first Training Provider Showcase on 26.11.2025 and were joined by Starting Off, Young Enterprise and SSG. Recording will be available soon & slides are available to download below.
Wishing you and your families a happy ‘careersmas’ when it comes and we look forward to continuing to support you through 2026 and beyond!
The updated Compass evaluation is now available on both Compass and Compass+.
53% of schools and colleges across the region have already completed theirs – have you? Please make sure to complete your evaluation with the support of your Careers Consultant before the end of term. If you haven’t booked a meeting yet, reach out to them as soon as possible. This is your first chance to benchmark your current careers provision against the refreshed framework – don’t miss it!
To help you prepare, we’ve compiled: – A ‘How to Prepare’ guide for your Compass evaluation – Compass Questions Preparation – Nov 2025 – Link to CEC guidance for each type of Compass evaluation
46%
Career Impact System – Internal Leadership Review
46% of schools and colleges across the region have already completed theirs – have you? The Internal Leadership Review, available on Compass and Compass+ looks inward at leadership, governance, and strategic impact – how careers education is embedded in the school/college culture and leadership priorities.
Save the date – Tuesday 12th May 2026, 5:30pm – 7pm – online live apprenticeship and T-level event showcasing opportunities across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes – working in partnership with Amazing Apprenticeships
Date
Time
Event
15/12/25
12.30
CPD Session Benchmark 7
12/01/26
15.00
Term 2 Kick Off
13/01 – 15/01
All day
Peer to Peer Reviews
14/01/26
15.30
CPD Session Benchmark 2
20/01/26
15.30
Inclusive Apprenticeships Masterclass
03/02 – 04/02
All day
Career Leader training, local cohort
12/02/25
12.30
Benchmark 5 and 6: How to engage employers
For all upcoming dates please view our hub calendar.
New ATE Resources for Teachers and Careers Leaders
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.
Available now – designed for anyone to be able to pick up and use – careers leaders, teachers employers. The resource decks include delivery notes, presentation script and animation.
Amazing Apprenticeships What is technical education FAQs
You can access the most up-to-date LMI shared by Bedford Borough Council for Q2 2025 using the slides linked here – Bedford Borough LMI Q2 2025
MYPATH short video – Who’s involved in a pantomime? in collaboration with Theatrecraft
MYPATH has created a short video called Who’s involved in a pantomime?in collaboration with Theatrecraft in Central London, which is now live on our YouTube channel. It is completely free for schools to use and is ideal to show in class or assembly before any school trip to a pantomime.
The video:
Introduces the key on-stage roles (actors, dancers, etc.)
Highlights the off-stage roles that make the show possible (directors, set designers, technicians, front of house and more)
Helps children see the range of jobs and skills involved in putting on a performance
The Ofsted inspection framework has been updated. The CEC has developed a guide to support educators and Careers Leaders with understanding the key changes to inspecting careers education frpm November 2025
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.
Chilled Education raises awareness among students about the diverse and rewarding career opportunities, particularly in food science, within the UK’s chilled food manufacturing industry.
We have a wealth of resources available at www.chillededucation.org, including free, bespoke lesson plans and practical, hands-on activities for teachers (Key Stages 1-4), as well as store cupboard science experiments, careers information, job descriptions & career paths.
We can offer face-to-face and online sessions linking science and food to careers in the Chilled food sector for schools and colleges. With hands-on activities such as Glo Germ Handwashing, through to expanding marshmallows linking science and food.
For more information, please email education@chilledfood.org
