Introducing the Conference Theme:

The recently published White Paper: ‘Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth’ has provided learning providers with strong hints of what to expect in a long-awaited update of the DfE statutory guidance for Careers Guidance. Examples include rolling out the Careers Hub programme, extending the Careers Leader training programme, an Ofsted thematic review on careers guidance and a continuing focus on achieving all 8 Gatsby Benchmarks (infinity, as the national average from the latest CEC report currently shows that schools are meeting 3.7 of the 8 benchmarks). We expect the new statutory guidance to be out soon, and we will clearly set out requirements from it for learning providers at this conference. This no cost conference aims to help you empower learners to make successful transitions through learning and into work.

The conference will consider all national policy and practice but focus on the individual learner. For many learners, the period from April 2020 to April 2021 has been a hugely challenging year. The impending economic downturn will present challenges for young people more than any other demographic as they embark on their career journey. As career professionals we have a duty to go beyond the statutory guidance to provide learners with a sense of hope, optimism and ownership of their future. Exams and qualifications are no longer enough, and learners will need to develop their career knowledge, skills and attitudes to be competitive in the job market. The timing of this conference coincides with the CDI’s new Career Development learning framework being published. Professor Tristram Hooley, careers expert and author of the new framework, will provide a keynote address on the rationale and theme of the framework.

The conference speakers including experienced practitioners/careers leaders will support you to comply with the statutory duties and identify best practice to take you to infinity (ambition from 2018 statutory guidance) and beyond! Throughout the conference speakers will identify ways for you to evidence your career programme’s intent, implementation and impact ensuring the needs of all learners are met.

The conference will run remotely through Zoom, a user-friendly and most effective platform. There will be plenty of opportunities to be interactive and post questions to all speakers, as well as regular screen breaks.