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Finding advice and guidance services for careers and learning opportunities
In the UK, it is not always easy to find advice and guidance, especially if you are not in a school, college or university. The government is planning to support more local information, advice and guidance centres for adults. In the meantime, this section may give you some suggestions for finding further information and professional guidance. You will also find commercial agencies through our section on search engines and directories.
learndirect is a national advice line which can advise on courses and where to find advice and guidance in your area.
It is always important to check the qualifications and procedures of services and agencies and whether they belong to a professional organisation such as:
- AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) - professional association of careers services in Higher Education, includes information on higher education careers, services, the mutual aid scheme, best practice on graduate recruitment, links to discussion lists, publications, training and quality.
- Careers Scotland - information and guidance for individuals, employers, learning and guidance providers.
- Careers Wales - information and guidance for individuals, employers, learning and guidance providers.
- Educational Guidance Service for Adults, Northern Ireland - for guidance and information on learning in Northern Ireland.
- FEDPAG (Federation of Professional Associations in Guidance) - includes ethical principles, news, consultations, events and links.
- ICG (Institute of Careers Guidance) - members' information, also includes careers information, FAQs, news, events and training for non-members.
- Matrix - provides the quality standard for all careers and education information, advice and guidance services.
- NAEGA (National Association for Educational Guidance for Adults) - news, publications, links and members information.
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1. If you are already studying at a college or university:
Contact your careers & guidance service in your college or contact:
2. If you have recently left a college or university & moved to another town:
Prospects will provide some advice or identify your nearest graduate advice service, or look at the resources for adult guidance
3. Information & guidance for adults:
Is available from educational guidance services or Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG) services, where available, and some careers services. You can find your local service from
- Careers Scotland - information & guidance for individuals, employers, learning & guidance providers.
- Careers Wales - information & guidance for individuals, employers, learning & guidance providers.
- The Guidance Council - a search facilty to find your local advice & guidance service.
- Educational Guidance Service for Adults, Northern Ireland - for guidance & information on learning in Northern Ireland.
- Careers Portal - online careers advice & guidance.
- Independent Advice & Guidance pilot schemes - some areas of the country are providing adult guidance services in a pilot scheme, details are on this site.
- Jobcentre Plus - as part of the varied New Deal schemes, it may possible to be referred to an independent adviser in your area for advice.
- learndirect (or telephone free, tel: 0800 100 900) - should be able to give you details of local careers & educational advice & guidance services & also information on specific courses or training opportunities, around the UK from a number of national & regional databases.
- Worktrain - information on jobs, training, careers, voluntary work & childcare, another government site.
4. If you are an employer or self-employed contact:
5. If you are unemployed or if you are a single parent (lone parent):
As well as the services listed above for adults, you will also find help from:
- Jobcentre Plus - the advisers may be able to refer you to specialist local agencies.
- New Deal schemes - DfES general information online.
- Learndirect (or telephone free, tel: 0800 100 900) - should be able to give you details of local careers & educational advice & guidance services & also information on specific courses or training opportunities, around the UK from a number of national & regional databases.
- Alphabetical index of FE colleges or another list of
Further Education colleges (from Wolverhampton University) - colleges will sometimes offer an independent careers & educational advice & guidance service or will know of local guidance service.
- TAPS (Training Access Points) in the North East - information on educational databases used in some agencies and TECs.
- Libraries: Information is also available from your local public library which will have up to date careers & educational guidance reference books, possibly CD Rom programmes & may also have educational advisers & be able to refer you to specialist & other local guidance services.
- The Site - a site designed for young people, which has a huge amount of information, including lists of local advice services, some of which may offer careers & educational advice.
- Worktrain - information on jobs, training, careers & voluntary work.
6. If you are a disabled person:
All disabled people are entitled to free careers advice & guidance from government funded careers services (stated in the Requirements & guidance for careers services, DfES 1998)
Some disability organisations also provide careers & educational advice. These links will provide other sources of information:
- Careers services & careers companies.
- Dial UK - disability advice network, find your local DIAL, news, information & links to wide range of related websites.
- Jobcentre Plus - help for disabled people - information on services for claimants & employers, including the PACT services.
- Jobsearch links - further selected links for disabled people.
- learndirect (or telephone free, tel: 0800 100 900) - may be able to give you details of a relevant advice & guidance service in your areas.
- New Deal schemes & other advice & guidance - DfES information site.
- RNIB - has online factsheets & more by post, information about further education & training, also a student website & a section on careers information & advice.
- Services for disabled students studying at the Open University - including study needs, materials in alternative formats, services available, student views and Frequently Asked Questions.
- SKILL (The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities) does not offer careers or educational advice to individuals but their site has excellent factsheets & answers to Frequently Asked Questions on student finance & jobsearch & lists of organisations & contacts. Recently merged with CanDo, careers advisory service for university students & graduates.
- Working Without Hearing - employment tips, personal stories and useful organisations.
- Youreable.com - information & links on employment, education, also a job centre, mailing lists & "soapbox".
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7. If you would like to study or work overseas:
You may also find useful information in our sections on:
- Studying in other countries
- Working in other countries
- Voluntary work
- learndirect (or telephone free, tel: 0800 100 900) - will be able to give you information on countries & contacts & may be able to give you details of a local advice & guidance service.
- CEDEFOP - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training - includes projects & publications on approximating standards & mutual recognition of qualifications.
- ENIC-NARIC can be contacted for recognition of national qualifications, European Network of Information Centres, National Academic Recognition Information Centres, to check if you meet entry requirements.
- Careers Europe - provides information mainly to careers & guidance services but has some information online & some publications that may be of use.
- British Council - information & advice about studying in the UK for international students.
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