Written question WQ97334

Careers Wales work with all secondary schools, special schools, Pupil Referral Units and colleges supporting young people to become more effective at planning and managing their careers in an ever changing and complex job market. They provide one to one impartial personalised career guidance and group sessions to help young people learn more about their career options, understand how their choices can impact their future career and how to take their next steps.

They work with thousands of businesses across Wales to facilitate bringing schools and employers together with the aim of informing, inspiring and motivating young people about their career opportunities. This includes facilitating bringing schools together with the armed forces through;

- specialist outreach teams (including medical, engineering and logistics)

- local recruitment centres to deliver presentations on pathways and

- attending some of the Careers Wales ALN What Next careers fairs.

The Careers Wales Working Wales service delivers free personalised, professional, impartial careers and employability advice, support and guidance for those aged 16+ no longer in statutory education and living in Wales, including those in the secure estate and seeking sanction. Working Wales will refer individuals onto appropriate employability programmes and support individuals into work, self-employment and apprenticeships. They also provide a gateway for the Young Persons Guarantee, helping young people who are unsure of their next step and helps them to choose the right and most appropriate pathway from the range of options open to them.

The role of Careers Wales is to provide impartial professional support to enable young people and adults make informed choices about their career pathways. Careers guidance is tailored and centred around each individual, providing them with the information on all suitable careers and pathways, this will include information on armed forces pathways when suitable. Information relating to armed forces careers is also available on the Careers Wales website, which is available for anyone to view

Careers and Work-Related Experiences (CWRE) is also a cross-cutting theme within our Curriculum for Wales for learners aged 3 to 16. Schools have a responsibility to deliver CWRE across their curriculum which will support learners to develop knowledge, skills and understanding in preparation for the challenges and opportunities of further learning and the world of work. CWRE guidance states that work-related experiences which includes a variety of opportunities showcasing the range of career opportunities within a local, national, and international context plays a significant role in delivering effective CWRE. This could include careers such as the armed forces.