Personal guidance meetings are available to all students at any time and provide purposeful, supportive conversations between a careers adviser and a young person to:

· Encourage self-reflection on the encounters and experiences received through their careers programme together with skills, interests and achievements and how these may influence their career plans.

· Help them make informed choices about their futures so they can develop their interests and potential and follow the path that is right for them into work.

· Break down barriers to opportunities.

· Improve skills needed for success in work.

· Improve national productivity and grow the economy, ensuring they have the ambition, knowledge, skills, experiences of the workplace and awareness of opportunities needed to succeed in fulfilling careers.

As part of our statutory requirements, we strive to ensure every learner has at least one personal guidance meeting with a qualified career adviser by the age of 16, and a further meeting by the age of 18. Meetings are scheduled in the careers programme to meet the needs of learners.

Careers guidance and access for education and training providers

Meet Nicola Buttery is our Regional Careers Adviser. Nicola holds a Level 7 master’s degree in Career Guidance and Development, a Level 6 Careers Leader qualification and is a registered professional with the Careers Development Institute (CDI).

Students can request an appointment with Nicola, at any time, by emailing their request to their schools’ Careers Leader. jevans1@bluecoat.uk.com

In addition, we work closely with Futures (Nottingham schools only) and Luminate, both external organisations support us to deliver one to one personal guidance meetings for Year 10-13 students, for more information regarding Luminate, please visit: Services – Luminate Careers

From age 13 students can also seek careers advice through the National Careers Service (NCS) If they are under 13, it is okay for a parent, carer or guardian to call on their behalf.

Students can speak to a careers adviser if they live in England by calling 0800 100 900. NCS are open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday and bank holidays, they are closed Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Calls are free from landlines and most mobile numbers, (but it is always good to check)

Students also have the option of a chat online or by email, can ask NCS to call them or request information by post https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice to speak to a careers adviser.

The role of the NCS is described as ‘supplementing support available to learners through their school or college, particularly outside of term time’ and can be an excellent resource for students who may be anxious and need additional support a key time of transition.

All professionals follow the principles of the CDI Code of Ethics. https://www.thecdi.net/about-us/cdi-code-of-ethics