Meet Richard Jones, Careers Adviser…
Richard joined Progress Careers 2.5 years ago and has since played a vital role in strengthening our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) support. As we continue to expand our reach into SEND specific schools, Richard has been instrumental in helping us to tailor our resources and processes to be fully accessible. From advising on how to optimise our websites for all users, to curating SEND careers resources, his expertise has elevated our SEND offer to new heights. Get to know Richard in his own words…
“My career journey has been full of twists and turns. After earning a degree in sport, I decided to retrain and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Careers Guidance at Huddersfield University – inspired by a careers adviser who helped me find my own direction. Since then, I’ve worked across a range of education and guidance roles, from Connexions to the Aim Higher programme at the University of Derby, to teaching and working as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant in a primary school. I later returned to careers work after spotting a Progress Careers job advert on Indeed. I didn’t know a lot about Progress Careers at the time but I’m very pleased to now be working for such a supportive company.
In my current role, no two days are ever the same. I deliver one-to-one careers guidance, run group sessions and assemblies, liaise with school staff, and support staff CPD. What I enjoy most about my role is trying to make a difference – especially with SEND students. Careers is such a valuable part of school life because, with good guidance, students are given the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions and set off on the right path for them. To me, this is really the main point of coming to school: to be able to get a job that you enjoy. Careers is the golden thread that binds the curriculum to the world of work outside.
Working with SEND students is an important part of my role. SEND students are no different when it comes to wanting to become active citizens – they just often have more barriers to overcome. Working with them is both rewarding and challenging, and I value being a small part of the process that helps them move closer to a fulfilling career. One moment that stands out to me is working closely with a student with Autism who wouldn’t talk to anyone she didn’t know. After our second or third meeting, she brought out an art book that she had only ever shown to her key worker in school. Watching her confidence grow in that moment will always stay with me.
The biggest challenges facing SEND careers provision today are funding and resources. There is such a high demand for SEND support, and I worry that those most in need won’t always get the help they require because the system is stretched so thin. At the same time, there are big opportunities too. More SEND schools and colleges are recognising the value of careers guidance, and with it being a statutory requirement, there is scope to make a real difference. That’s why I’m passionate about helping Progress Careers expand our SEND offer, so we can continue breaking down barriers and ensuring every young person, whatever their needs, has the support to achieve their potential.
Outside of work, I enjoy running, walking the mad dog that is our cocker spaniel (called Zippy), navigating the stormy seas of parenting teenagers, and doing a spot of reading when I can. A fun fact about me is that, for people of a certain age, I once fitted out and sold a pair of walking boots to Victoria Wood and her husband, Geoffrey Durham (better known as the Great Soprendo)!
If I could give one piece of advice to young people thinking about their future, it would be this: Be ambitious and know all the facts. Don’t let anything come as a surprise – be informed!”
We’re excited to see how Richard’s expertise continues to strengthen our SEND offer. So far, his input has helped us enhance our websites with accessibility tools, ensuring all users can easily access the information and guidance we provide. Richard has also identified further ways to improve accessibility across our platforms and has played a key role in curating a comprehensive bundle of tailored SEND resources to better support students, parents, and educators alike.
