So, you want to learn more about getting started as a Careers Leader – well, you’ve come to the right place. While you’ll find that most of the resources on this site have been developed to help you, the following information is specifically designed to support your role in shaping and implementing a career’s programme in your school, special school or college. And even if you’re an experienced Careers Leader, you might still find the guidance here useful. You can also gain support from our Network through your local Enterprise Coordinator see details below to get in touch. Let’s get started…
What does a Careers Leader do?
Simply put, Careers Leaders are responsible and accountable for the delivery of their school or college’s careers programme. And the ‘careers programme’ means the school or college’s strategy, plans and arrangements for delivering careers guidance.
It’s a senior role that requires a clear view and understanding of the school or college’s careers programme, and to make sure the Gatsby Benchmarks are met.
The Careers Leader needs to be someone who can:
- Liaise with external partners, such as employers, learning providers and career guidance services
- Coordinate and manage the various elements of the careers programme with a stable and embedded strategy
- Take responsibility for continuous improvement of the careers programme, ensuring that it delivers the kinds of impacts that are needed for young people
- Pay careful attention to feedback from all stakeholders and to the destinations of pupils.
Key policy context and statutory guidance
Here are some useful links to external sites that will help to provide further context around key policies and statutory guidance.
Starter resources
We offer a number of key resources to support new Careers Leaders, along with our comprehensive, free training offer. We recommend taking a look at the following resources to get you started:
Careers Leader training
Transform your careers programme and develop your skills as a Careers Leader to strategically embed careers in the curriculum.
Understanding how to create a strategic careers plan
This resource helps Careers Leaders create a strategic careers plan that ensures the careers provision:
- Has explicit backing of governors, the headteacher and the senior management teams
- Is linked to the whole school, special school or college development plan
Careers Leader Roadmap
This resource is a 3 Phase Plan for Planning for Impact: Embedding sustainable and strategic careers leadership.
Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit: Schools, Special Schools & AP
The Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Schools, Special Schools and Alternative Provisions provides practical information and guidance on the updated Gatsby Benchmarks .
Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit: Colleges and ITPs
The Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Colleges and ITPs provides practical information and guidance on the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
Careers Leader Induction: Free Online Learning
Careers Leader Induction: Free Online Learning
Guided Learning Hours: 2-4 hours
Funded training key stats
The recently published evaluation report for funded training showed that:
- 91% of participants are either satisfied or very satisfied with the overall training programme
- 96% of participants either agreed or strongly agreed that the training had helped them to identify action to improve their practice
- 99% of participants reported that they were able to review and evaluate their school/college careers programme after they had participated in the course, compared with 74% prior to the training
Find out more here
Need more?
If you have a question that we haven't answered, you need help that isn't addressed by the resources on this site, or you just want to talk to someone about being a Careers Leader, we can help.
Contact an Enterprise Coordinator - Speak with an Enterprise Coordinator to help get you started.
FAQs - See our list of frequently asked questions here.