Caithness.org News Bulletins

As well as assisting school pupils and college students, Careers Scotland will extend its services to all ages - helping people who are in or out of work, those who need career planning support and giving advice on learning and employment opportunities.  It's the first such organisation in the UK to offer an all-age career guidance service and will play a key role in the drive to create one of the world's most competitive workforces.

Careers Scotland will have a particular focus on supporting vulnerable young people who will have access to a dedicated key worker to support them in making the transitions to the next step in their working life.  The new body - which comes into existence in April - has been created through the merger of 80 existing organisations and will deploy more than 1000 frontline staff operating in 100 locations. Operationally, Careers Scotland will be aligned with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise with directors responsible for each area.

A new web site - www.careers-scotland.org.uk  - will provide round-the-clock access to advice and information and a network of new flagship Careers Scotland centres will be brought into operation across the country.

Careers Scotland will:
* Offer independent and impartial career guidance
* Put people in touch with learning and employment opportunities
* Work with businesses and Future Skills Scotland to improve labour market intelligence
* Develop career related learning programmes to ensure young people get the best start
* Support the learning community to develop the employability and enterprise skills of individuals
* Help with job seeking skills including presentation of job applications and CVs
* Assist individuals to overcome personal barriers to employment in conjunction with other agencies
* Strengthen links between the business community and schools

Robert Crawford, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: "I'm in absolutely no doubt that the skills of our people will be the single most important weapon in our drive to build Scotland into one of the world's most successful economies.   "To achieve that we will need a smart, flexible and adaptable workforce and Careers Scotland will play a major role in giving Scots the skills and information to win in today's fast-changing labour market.  "Careers Scotland will also give the Enterprise Networks a clear edge over our UK and European competitors. No other area of the UK has such an all-age, co-ordinated service and I'm convinced it will give us a major competitive advantage."

Christina Allon, director of Careers Scotland (SE) said: "Careers Scotland will work closely with colleagues in Future Skills Scotland and other parts of the Enterprise Network to ensure that people get the information, guidance, skill development and personal support they need to realise their full personal potential and ambition.  "We will deliver an integrated range of high quality guidance services, information resources, learning experiences and employability services to help people to be resilient and successful in the ever changing labour market. We'll develop mutually beneficial relationships with businesses to support existing and future workforces. In doing so, we hope to build skills, employability and ambition across Scotland."

Catriona Eagle, director of Careers Scotland (HIE) said: "The new web site will provide the most advanced online careers guidance to people of all ages and enable them to get detailed information when and where they want it. The online service is particularly relevant to rural and sparsely populated areas.   "We aim to lead the way in the UK and Europe in the provision of superior careers guidance and give the people of Scotland the skills and information they need to secure the jobs of tomorrow."