Change could help kids get better jobs, but expert says ‘sooner’

Calls have been made to give school children earlier careers advice to ensure they make the right decisions for their futures. Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee said young people needed to know what was out there for them at an earlier stage – particularly in new industries emerging in the region.

They also said that “meaningful work experience” is crucial to helping people plan the careers they really want and not end up in jobs they hate. Dr Fiona Aldridge, Head of Insight and Intelligence in Economic Delivery, Skills and Communities, said she is developing a careers strategy for all ages to help schools in this area.

Counselor Ian Kettle said: “Very often careers advice comes very late in the school experience. We should start earlier, so that people can begin to form ideas about what is out there and what adult life might be for them.

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“I like the idea of ​​not having careers centers at the end of school but in the last three years of the curriculum to give young people a wider experience of what’s out there in the world of work.”

Dr Aldridge said: “As part of the devolution deal, we were given the responsibility to develop a careers strategy for all ages. The earlier we can help people think about their careers, the more options they have.

“It’s not that people necessarily know what they want to do early, but they rule things out early. The more we can give them exposure to a range of careers – and the range of careers in the region is really changing – that’s really important. .”

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She added that the authority works closely with schools, organizing a range of activities to help with careers advice. Committee vice-chairman Councilor Vera Waters said in Walsall that schools were giving Year 9 children the opportunity to do work experience rather than waiting until they were in later years.

She said: “I think it’s a good idea because when you’re that age it’s a long decision about your career path and if they do it early enough it gives them time to do it instead of being put on. on the spot at the last minute.”

Dr Aldridge said: “There is clear evidence that meaningful work experience is one of the most powerful things you can do around your career. There is a set of benchmarks that identify what good careers look like and our schools in the region are asked to sign up. until those.

“There is very good practice, but what we need to ensure is that it is a consistent offer for young people in the region. We need to get more employers involved because you can do so much through a school, but if there isn’t something good. A quality work experience provides all our employers, then they will be difficult to find – especially in some of those new and innovative industries.”