The Climbing Frame is an electronic tool developed by Unionlearn, an organisation established by the Trades Union Congress in the UK to help Union Learning Representatives to promote lifelong learning in the workplace and to assist members to access learning opportunities.

The Matrix Standard is a unique quality standard to support the effective delivery of information, advice and guidance wherever it takes place. It has been found useful by trade unions in benchmarking and developîng learner support initiatives in the workplace

This guide (2009) brings these two frameworks together, showing how they complement each other and the benefits of this complementarity in delivering high quality support to learners.

This Working Pâper by Bert Clough of Unionlearn, an organisation established by the Trades Union Congress in the UK, provides a historic review of the government skills strategy in the UK and of the partnership response of the trade union movement. It describes the rise of the Union Learning Representative (ULR), achieving national and statutory recognition. Their key role is to raise the demand for learning especially among workers with low or no qualifications. Their functions include:

• training needs analysis
• providing information and advice on training
• promoting the value of training
• arranging training
• consulting with employers.

In one recent survey, 85% reported offering information, advice and guidance.

The paper also describes the experience of trade unions in other countries in similar activities.

The proximity of the ULRs to the workforce is another example of how access to guidance at the workplace can be organised.

This review undertaken by Prof. Tony Watts for the Welsh Assembly Government, was part of a wider review of careers services in Wales, UK. Its aim was to review the work of Careers Wales in terms of strengths and challenges, including its links to other career guidance providers, in an international context, using benchmarks provided by the OECD Career Guidance Policy Review and drawing comparisons with other main all-age guidance providers in New Zealand, Northern Ireland and Scotland (with some reflections on comparisons with the adult careers services in England).

The report is structured as follows:

• setting the direction (policy context, structure, resources, international context)
• shaping the service (including access, coherence, targeting, and marketing)
• improving performance (assuring quality)
• working with other guidance providers
• summary of strengths and challenges.

The development of lifelong guidance delivery systems and access to such by citizens is a high political priority in Europe. In most countries segmented and dis-associated career guidance services exist; and one approach to overcome such boundaries is to develop a networked and linked approach to the provision of an all-age service. This report is essential reading on one country's experience of a network linked approach, enhanced with comparisons to other all-age models in other countries.

This is the contribution of ESTYN, Her Majesty's Inspectorate for Education and Training in Wales, to a review of careers services undertaken in the context of the Welsh Assembly Government's Action Plan "Skills that Work for Wales". The review was to determine how Careers Wales was in a position to respond to dynamic factors arising from policy developments, demographic changes, and economic conditions.

ESTYN analysed its inspection and thematic surveys across the 6 career companies that comprise Careers Wales, addressing issues of standards, the quality of education and training, and leadership and management. The inspections involved direct observation of the work of guidance practitioners, interaction with the clients, and discussions with staff and management.

This is an interesting example of how

• an inspectorate undertakes an assessment of a career guidance service
• an inspectorate can operate in a network model of guidance delivery so as to improve performance across the network of partners  (six different career companies were involved)
• the practice of group and individual guidance can be assessed through observation. 

In the current economic climate, it is essential that graduates are prepared to enter the workplace, possessing key employability skills which will enable them to compete in today's job market. Universities and employers both have an important role to play in providing work placements, internships and opportunities which can assist in the development of these skills such as campus talks from employers and specific employability modules.

Future fit , produced and published by the Confederation of Brirish Industry, highlights some of the positive work being done by universities and employers to provide these opportunities but as the report suggests there is still scope for universities, employers and indeed students to do more to address employability. Where business-university links are not yet established, engagement must be encouraged – particularly for SMEs who may be less confident in establishing these links having fewer resources with which to provide work placements. Businesses of all sizes and sectors must get involved with the employability agenda not least because doing so will provide them with a better pool of graduates from which to recruit.

A survey of undergraduates conducted for the report, found that 35% of students would have liked to have taken part in a special programme to develop their employability skills but this was not offered.  This suggests that there is unmet demand among students in the provision of these opportunities. One of the key messages to come out of the report was the need for universities and businesses to 'up their game' in the development of employability skills in students – both in terms of the number of placements on offer and in terms of course content. Both universities and students need to recognise that employability skills should not be treated as an 'add on' but as an essential part of the university curriculum.

This report features 13 case studies from both employers and universities which highlight the constructive work already being done on employability. With findings from surveys of employers, universities and students – the report goes on to present some 'key lessons' for all three groups as to how they can better address this area and ensure our graduates are equipped with the skills they need in the workplace. 

Funded by CfBT Education Trust, this research examined the impact on career guidance provision for young people of new arrangements for budget and management responsibilities by all local authorities in England since such changes came into effect in April 2008.

The authors concluded that there is a need for a stronger and more coherent national policy framework to be implemented so that young people may benefit from career guidance services of comparable quality regardless of their geographic location in England. Such a framework should be based on a detailed clarification of (i) the nature and relationships of key concepts; (ii) whether or not the distinctive expertise of the professional practitioner is recognised; and (iii) the extent of young people's entitlement to professional career guidance from an external source.

This is a summary report of the research that tested whether the provision of advice and guidance makes a difference over time to the work and learning outcomes of adults aged 20 years plus. Based on a telephone survey of 4000 information, advice and guidance recipients, it compared the outcomes of advice and guidance recipients to a control group of information only recipients.

Clear differences emerged on levels of confidence, motivation and opportunity awareness between the two groups with greater benefits reported by the advice and guidance recipients.

This research tested whether the provision of advice and guidance makes a difference over time to the work and learning outcomes of adults aged 20 years plus. Based on a telephone survey of 4000 information, advice and guidance recipients, it compared the outcomes of advice and guidance recipients to a control group of information only recipients.

Clear differences emerged on levels of confidence, motivation and opportunity awareness between the two groups with greater benefits reported by the advice and guidance recipients.

This is a joint strategy and implementation plan for career guidance services in Northern Ireland of two government ministries/ the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning. Based on extensive consultation exercises on its proposals of 2007, the document outlines a new comprehensive strategy for the delivery of career guidance services and the challenges involved. It articulates a vision for the future and maps the actions required to deliver it.

The vision is subdivided into five themes:

1. Careers education
2. Access to careers information
3. Improving careers advice and guidance
4. Improving quality
5. Improving professional development.

The acquisition and development of career management skills has become an EU policy priority in the field of education and training as evidenced in the Council of Education Ministers' Resolutions on lifelong guidance (2004, 2008). This atttached extract from the UK's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority provided by www.cegnet.co.uk outlines the

-learning objectives

-possible teaching activities

-learning outcomes

for use with 17 to 19 year olds in learning settings in England.