After taking a few days to reflect on the government’s recent policy update on careers guidance, I was genuinely encouraged to see the renewed emphasis on personal guidance and the prioritisation of high-quality provision, particularly through the Quality in Careers Standard (QiCS).
For too long, personal guidance has been undervalued in national policy conversations, despite its undeniable impact on the futures of young people. Seeing a renewed commitment to careers guidance, with a clear expectation for investment to be made into it, is a positive sign for young people and those in adult training, as it means that they will have access to the advice and guidance they need to make informed decisions about their own pathways.
In the government’s own words, the Department for Education “expects Headteachers, Principals and governing boards to:
• Support their careers teams, especially their career leaders.
• Invest in personalised guidance provided by qualified careers advisers.”
This is a clear call to action, not just to value careers guidance in principle, but to invest in it as an essential part of every person’s educational experience.
The policy also states:
“We strongly recommend that all schools and colleges work towards the national Quality in Careers Standard to support the development of their careers programme.”
At Progress Careers, we’ve long championed the QiCS as a powerful framework for driving consistent, high-quality provision. We’re proud to have supported numerous schools and Multi-Academy Trusts across the country in both achieving and maintaining the standard.
In fact, recognising its growing significance, we’re now developing a dedicated consultancy offer specifically for schools looking to work towards the QiCS. This is an exciting step that will allow us to provide even more tailored support to schools striving for excellence in their careers programme.
Encouragingly, the policy update also applies to Independent Training Providers (ITPs), who are now expected to deliver the same level of personalised, high-quality careers guidance to their learners. This presents an important opportunity to ensure that those pursuing vocational and alternative education routes are equally supported in making confident, informed choices. It’s also an exciting area of growth for us at Progress Careers, as we explore how our expertise can benefit this wider group of providers and their learners.
Naturally, this update brings with it important questions around implementation. Will further funding follow to match the ambition? What practical support will be made available to schools, and how will consistency and accountability be maintained across regions? These are vital considerations, and I’m hopeful that additional guidance will emerge in the weeks to come.
At Progress Careers, we remain fully committed to delivering impartial, student-centred guidance that empowers people to explore their futures with confidence and clarity. This policy update not only validates the work we do – it energises our mission.
As we move forward, I’m excited to see how this renewed focus, and investment will translate into tangible outcomes for the people we serve. With collaboration, ambition, and a commitment to quality, we can reshape the future of careers education, one young person at a time.
Paula Thompson
Managing Director, Progress Careers
