Calls are being made to guarantee young people and college students face-to-face careers advice to help further their job prospects amidst the current recession.

A recent study conducted by AoC found half of post-GCSE pupils don’t feel they have received sufficient careers advice during their studies from their school or academy. The news also comes in the wake of the government’s planned changes to create a National Careers Service by April 2012. 

Paul Davis, managing director of Perspective, believes face-to-face careers advice should become essential for all college and academy students: “Careers advice should be a necessary element of college attendance for all students. It helps make students aware of not only careers options, but also the availability of apprenticeships and vocational courses to help further their on-site experience before leaving education.”

Confusion is believed to have spread due to the scrapping of the EMA, coupled with the high number of post-GCSE qualifications available. With the post-GCSE period likely to have a significant impact on a young person’s future, face-to-face guidance can help mold a young person’s future effectively.