Rachel Hopkins MP backs careers guidance in schools, as Labour pledges to ensure young people leave education life-ready and job-ready 

Rachel Hopkins MP is backing Labour’s plan to deliver professional careers guidance in schools as part of the party’s plan to ensure young people leave education ready for work and ready for life, during National Careers Week.

Labour has committed to ensuring every young person gets professional information, advice and guidance on their future study and career options alongside two weeks’ worth of work experience while at secondary schools, helping students to make informed choices about their future.

The Government cut back careers advice in 2011, despite headteachers warning it could leave two million young people without the support they need. Pre-pandemic data showed that this had left two-thirds of young people without professional careers advice and almost half reporting that they felt unprepared for the future.

Last month, the Conservatives voted against giving young people careers advice as part of the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, blocking plans to ensure young people have the skills and support they need to succeed.

Alongside recruiting over a thousand new careers advisors for schools, Labour’s plan to guarantee every young person leaves education ready for work and life would embed digital and life skills across the curriculum, ensuring all young people have access to laptops and technology and that they have the skills they need to succeed and prosper.

Rachel Hopkins MP for Luton South said:

“Careers guidance offers young people a vital opportunity to learn about the pathways that are open to them to set themselves on course for success.

Despite warnings from headteachers that two million young people would be left without the necessary support, the Conservatives abolished the careers service in 2011.

Last month, Labour reintroduced plans to give children access to professional careers guidance, which were also opposed to by the Conservative Government.

Labour’s plan would have ensured every child received professional careers guidance and two weeks’ worth of work experience. The Tories have left our children unprepared for the world of work and damaged their life chances.”

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