Career Connect’s Education and Business team – which provides careers services and employer links to more than 200 schools across the country – is a finalist at the 2024 Children and Young People Now Awards.

The team is shortlisted in the Advice and Guidance category of these prestigious awards, which showcase innovation and outstanding practice, and champion the vital work of services supporting children, young people and families across the UK.

The shortlisting recognises the charity’s 20-year commitment to helping school and college pupils to access impartial careers advice and make the best career choices for themselves.

Central to the team’s success is its links with employers, helping bring careers to life and new opportunities to the young people they support. 

The Wirral Skills Show – which is set to return for another year – brings 2000 school students together with more than 60 employers from a range of industries every year.

In-school motivational workshops, which bring employers into classrooms, include topics such as challenging stereotypes, digital careers and enterprise.

The Charity also organises work experience and careers fairs for schools across the country, alongside one-to-one careers interviews and advice sessions for students. All delivery is fully aligned with the Gatsby benchmarks, the national standards for careers provision. 

The team also helps schools to achieve the Quality in Careers Standard and provides training for school and college careers leads.

Career Connect has also received funding from Local Authorities to deliver services that specifically target groups in geographical areas of high unemployment, to help raise aspirations. They have also delivered a Higher Education awareness programme for Year 8, 9 and 10 students in secondary schools and in Years 5 and 6 in 15 primary schools in Merseyside. Career Connect delivers in primary and secondary schools, specialist SEND provision, pupil referral units, secure accommodation providers, hospital schools, multi academy trusts, post-16 colleges and alternative provision.

Sheila Clark, CEO of Career Connect said:

“Our Education and Business team’s mission is to help raise aspirations and give young people the tools needed to follow their chosen path. We are proud of the relationships we build with young people, with schools and colleges, and with employers, to make this happen. I am delighted that our team’s work, and vision to create better futures, is being recognised.

“We understand the life-changing impact of receiving expert careers advice, and access to employers, at the right time. We also know we can achieve even better outcomes when we equip staff in schools and colleges with what they need to lead their careers programme. We are proud to deliver both.

“We have an ambitious vision to further increase our reach and our impact, helping us to change even more lives for the better.”