National Careers Week (NCW) aims to showcase the plethora of professional pathways available to young people after leaving school or college. From T Levels and traineeships through to apprenticeships and A Levels, there is a diverse range of options on offer for young people to pursue in aid of their unique personal goals and development.

At The St Martin’s Group, we are committed to widening access to all levels and forms of skills training, helping reach a broader demographic and drive participation for young people irrespective of their background. As such, we welcome, and actively support, awareness initiatives such as National Careers Week, which can play a pivotal role in boosting the profile of post-16 training and skills routes.

The need to clearly signpost avenues into skills training was a theme The St Martin’s Group recently explored in our written evidence submission to the Education Select Committee’s inquiry into the future of post-16 qualifications – which is now available to read in full. Our submission also considers the strengths of apprenticeships, such as high employment rates, the strong quality of learning pathways, the length and earning potential, their ability to equip learners with competitive skillsets and how they aid social mobility and the wider levelling up agenda.

As highlighted by Michelle Donelan MP, Minister of State for Higher and Further Education, there is a wealth of resources for students, teachers, parents and carers alike to take advantage of this National Careers Week, including:

• The ‘Get the Jump’ Skills for Life section of the National Careers Service website, which has been designed specifically for young people to help them decide their next move. This displays information about all the different education and training pathways, showing how they compare and where they can lead.
• The National Careers Service website, which outlines more than 800 job profiles with relevant information regarding salary levels, typical responsibilities and the best route into each job or career.
• Each school and college has a designated Careers Leader, who can facilitate conversations about future progression and share key resources.

NCW provides a wonderful opportunity for young people up and down the country to gain insight into different careers and focus on next steps. To add to your activity, consider watching our roundtable webinar, exploring the Real Costs and Benefits of Apprenticeships, to hear directly from Shannon Wilson, a chartered management degree apprentice with SMG partner IBM.