Careers services provide an easily accessible source of information, advice and guidance to both young people and adults. A number of bodies and online services exist to provide this type of information. Two nationally available web based services are LearnDirect and Directgov.
Guidance and counselling may also be provided in the workplace, by trade unions, citizen’s advice bureaux and by some Sector Skills Councils. Employment agencies also offer advice. They may operate in all areas of the employment market or deal only with particular sectors, and can often be found online.
Learndirect is an e-learning network which offers a free independent careers service.
This website provides a jobs and skills search facility. It contains details of the qualifications needed for different professions and information about training and voluntary work.
Careers Scotland is a national organisation and forms part of Skills Development Scotland. It provides careers information and works in schools and colleges as well as in partnership with business with the aim of supporting the development of more employable and enterprising workers.
Aimhigher is a programme run by the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) with support from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). It aims to widen participation in higher education by young people from under-represented groups, with particular focus on young people from disadvantaged social and economic backgrounds, some minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.
This organisation is made up of four partner organisations and gives advice and guidance for careers as well as support for skills development. The four bodies involved are Careers Scotland, Scottish University for Industry (no link at present time), a key skills element from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
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