LGA responds to Sutton Trust report on need for new careers education strategy

Responding to a Sutton Trust report calling for a new national strategy for careers education, including more funding to set up work experience placements and linked with the levelling up agenda, Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board said:

“Councils want to ensure every young person realises their full potential. Without action to address our fragmented national employment support system, we risk creating a lost generation of young people.

“It is vital that young people have the opportunities to pursue their chosen career path and no-one is left behind. This means providing the right, independent careers advice and guidance, to ensure every young person receives objective, impartial advice and finds the route that best suits them. 

“Local government is ideally placed to lead on this, using councils’ unique knowledge of their labour markets and relationship with local businesses. Young people need to know their local options and devolving careers advice, post-16 and skills budgets and powers to local areas, would allow councils, schools, colleges and employers to work together to improve their offer to help give every young person the best start in life.”