Based in the Department for Education and Skills, and of interest to guidance community because of its focus on skills for life.

National agency for basic skills in England and Wales.

Careers

Essentials

The UK’s resource centre for international career advice and opportunities. Provides resources to careers services, Connexions services and other relevant information and advisory services throughout the U.K.

Careers website with over 1,700 links to other useful sites, including resources and job-search facilities.

CRAC provides important links between the worlds of education and employment through its training programmes, publication and sponsored projects.

Resources for career professionals - including information on careers, training and employment issues.

CEGNET is the website of the national support programme for career education. It provides links, for example, to the Connexions Resource Centre Index and has its own directory of contacts (national and international).

The mission of the International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS) at the University of Derby is to be the UK's centre for excellence at the leading edge of guidance and related lifelong learning research and development activities, bridging the gap between managers, practitioners, researchers, and policy-makers. It's aims are: to conduct and encourage research into guidance policies and practices; to develop innovative strategies for guidance in support of lifelong learning; to provide resources to support guidance practice across all education, community and employment sectors. The Centre houses the Ask iCeGS Information Service (formerly the National Library Resource for Guidance), which has been used to edit and store reference material for the online discussion in the five participating countries during the project. The library is also available as a resource for website users.

The Government’s information, advice and support service for 13-19 year olds, containing regional websites and links with key contact details.

The Department for Education and Skills aims to create opportunities to release individuals’ potential. The Department works closely with other government departments and cross-departmental bodies, for example, the Children and Young People’s Unit. Its European division can be contacted on +44 207 340 4488

The Federation of Professional Associations in Guidance aims to increase the recognition of the importance of guidance professionals for the nation’s well being. The Federation has over 10,000 members working in schools, higher education institutions, adult guidance, Careers Scotland, Careers Wales, Northern Ireland Careers Service, Connexions Service and in industry and private practices.

The Guidance Council is an independent campaigning body on behalf of high-quality career guidance in the U.K. Their website is designed for access by the general public, practitioners/ members and policymakers.

The ICG information shows it as the largest and most influential organisation for the guidance sector in the U.K., representing the interests of the career guidance community.

ICDP aims to develop and support career development for lifelong work and learning. The U.K. is currently working alongside the career guidance sector in Australia, Canada, Finland and New Zealand to establish and evaluate the ICDP. For more information visit;

Designed to offer an integrated work and benefit service to adults of working age.

LSC is responsible for funding and planning education and training schemes for over 16 year olds in England.

Sponsored by DfES, NEAGA provide work and lifelong learning guidance for adults.

A non-governmental organisation for the promotion of adult education in England and Wales.

Initiated and supported by CRAC, NICEC aims to develop guidance in educational institutions and in work and community settings, through staff development, organisation development, curriculum development, consultancy and research.

SSDA helps to bring together employers, trade unions and government bodies to develop skills and productivity drive in industry and business sectors in the U.K.