Amanda Milling, Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase, has helped launch an inquiry looking at careers advice, information and guidance. This inquiry, which is part of her work on the new Joint Select Committee, the Committee for Economy, Skills and the Economy, is set to look at issues such as the quality of current careers advice, the effectiveness of careers advice in supporting people into apprenticeships, and how careers advice in schools and colleges can help match skills with the needs of the jobs market.
The Committee on Education, Skills and the Economy will also be holding a separate evidence session in the New Year with Skills Minister, Nick Boles, where he will be quizzed about his role and the effectiveness of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education in working together to increase productivity and economic performance.
Neil Carmichael MP, Chairman of the Education Select Committee, said: “Good quality careers advice is exceptionally important but current provision often seems patchy and complex, falling short in providing young people with comprehensive advice about the range of career opportunities available. While routes to university may be well mapped out, alternatives such as apprenticeships and vocational qualifications are largely ignored. As part of this inquiry, we look forward to examining the Government’s forthcoming careers strategy and to make recommendations across the education and skills sectors to help improve the careers advice services which young people receive”.
Iain Wright MP, Chair of the Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee, said: “Ensuring young people have access to good quality careers information, advice and guidance is crucial to social mobility. Giving young people a clearer understanding of where they could be going and how to get there can have a massive impact on their life chances as well as bringing benefits to our economy. As a new Committee, we are clear that education and skills policy has a crucial role to play in boosting our nation’s economy and that there should be a closer alignment between the needs of business and the skills our education system provides our young people. Whitehall has too much of a silo-mentality, with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education doing little to demonstrate joined-up thinking. We want to show Government that working across policy areas and across parties is possible and, as a Committee, we want to help ensure young people have the skills they need to achieve fulfilling careers and boost the country’s productivity.”
Amanda Milling, Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase added: “When I have been talking to local young people, their parents and businesses it has been very clear to me that we need to ensure that young people are getting the right career advice throughout their education to help to ensure that they are making the right choices and are getting the necessary skills for the world of work. As a keen advocate of apprenticeships and vocational training I am keen to ensure that these are being presented to pupils and their parents early as part of this advice. I want to ensure that there is a level playing field in terms of vocational and academic qualifications. This inquiry will be an opportunity for the committee to understand the current landscape and understand if and where issues with regards to careers advice, exist. I would encourage local people, parents, schools, colleges and businesses to submit evidence.”
The new Committee on Education, Skills, and the Economy is a Parliamentary innovation, bringing together Members from the Education Committee and Business, Innovation and Skills Committee to examine skills and education issues, and their impact on the economy, in a joined-up way.
Careers Advice inquiry – terms of reference
The inquiry will focus in particular on developments since the publication of the Education Committee report Careers guidance for young people: The impact of the new duty on schools, in 2013.
The Committee welcomes submissions addressing the following points:
• The quality and impartiality of current provision;
• How careers advice in schools and colleges can help to match skills with labour market needs;
• The role of the new Careers and Enterprise Company and its relationship with other bodies such as the National Careers Service;
• The balance between national and local approaches to careers advice;
• Careers advice and apprenticeships;
• The potential for employers to play a greater role in careers advice.
The deadline for written evidence is noon on Wednesday 20 January 2016.
How to respond
Written submissions for this inquiry should be sent via the Committee website here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-skills-and-economy/inquiries/parliament-2015/careers-advice-15-16/