Group - EKC Group granted funding boost to develop careers guidance
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EKC Group granted funding boost to develop careers guidance

EKC Group is set to share in a slice of a £2.5 million fund which will aim to develop innovative and cost effective models for careers guidance.

The Careers and Enterprise Company, which acts to prepare and inspire young people for the fast-changing world of work, have allocated the fund to schools and colleges across the country.

 

The schools and colleges will benefit from a further £1.6m investment in personal careers guidance for young people – a vital tool for students to focus on their future careers and set goals to achieve them. The fund supports the development of innovative, cost effective models for careers guidance.

 

EKC Group’s award of £115,440 will be used to help develop high quality relevant advice and guidance on progression pathways for students with Education, Health and Care Plans.

 

The careers education programme delivered by the Group will be accessible and engaging for students with a wide variety of complex and profound needs, including Global Learning Delay. Delivered across a network of colleges, it will benefit more than 400 learners while also ensuring at least 40 teaching and careers advice staff are trained in new ways of providing this specialist support. The programme will also ensure the wider Further Education sector benefits from a range of resources and good practice material for other providers to base their programmes on.

 

Lauren Anning, Executive Director Student Experience and Wellbeing of EKC Group, said: “There are so many opportunities and pathways open to young people which means it is imperative they get the most bespoke advice and guidance possible. This funding will help ensure some of our most vulnerable learners get the specialist advice they need to achieve their progression goals. We will be leading the way, delivering an innovative new careers education programme that will also deliver a legacy of resources.”

 

Once complete, the project will be used to develop practical guidance and case studies to support best practice across all schools and colleges. The government’s Careers Strategy launched last year highlights the importance of personal guidance in enabling schools and colleges to successfully and affordably deliver the Gatsby Benchmarks – a framework of guidelines that define the best careers provision in schools and colleges.

 

Claudia Harris, Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, said:

“This funding is already making a huge difference and the continued investment will make sure even more young people are supported to focus on their future. This is a real team effort as we work closely with career guidance professionals and careers organisations through the sector to maximise this investment, and show the impact that well-developed, sustainable personal career guidance programmes can have on young people.”