New Philanthropy Capital (NPC)
Careers guidance

What next?: The role of philanthropy in careers education and guidance for young people

John Copps

October 2005, 22 pages

New Philanthropy Capital_image_Careers guidanceThe journey from full-time education to employment can be daunting. Good advice and guidance can expand young people's horizons and aspirations and help them make the right decisions about their future.

NPC's report - What next? - looks at ways to improve careers education and guidance for young people up to the age of 19.



Did you know?

  • Approximately 170,000 of 16 to 18 year olds are not in education, employment or training.
  • It is often the 'middle strata' of pupils, who don't have strong informal networks for advice, but also do not qualify for specialist support, that are most neglected.

The report highlights priorities for donors, including:

  • building a strong advocate for the careers advice sector to ensure government supports every young person
  • helping charities that are developing new and innovative methods
  • supporting the most disadvantaged young people such as those with disabilities and those from ethnic minorities, who often find it difficult to access state services.

‘Doing this report showed me that the old saying "it’s not just who you know but what you know" is accurate. We are constrained by our experiences and informal networks of friends and family as much as we are by the grades we achieve at school. Just as the sons and daughters of teachers and doctors often opt to follow their parents into the profession, the same is true of shop and factory workers. Good careers education is crucial for correcting this discrepancy.’
John Copps, Senior research analyst

Charity insight

“There are around 170,000 16 to 18 year olds in the UK not in employment, education or training.''