Building better futures: decent work, inclusion and careers support services in the UK
Deirdre Hughes, Chris Warhurst, Emma Benger, Mandy Ifans
Abstract
The concepts of decent work, inclusion and supporting individuals to find pathways to learning and work opportunities present new opportunities and real challenges. Job security, roles and labour markets are changing rapidly. We focus on how the UK careers support landscape in each of the four home nations is changing in response to the pandemic. We argue that the quasi-market, experimental approach to careers provision in England has significantly weakened young people’s access to professionally-trained advisers. We outline a 'spaces and places paradigm' to reframe careers support in transformative ways. Our results show fragmented policies in England will not create the level of support needed by individuals, particularly those most vulnerable in the aftermath of Covid-19, to build better futures for themselves.