Careers Advice hits the shops

Advisers from igen delivering the nextstep contract in Hull and Leeds joined colleagues from the Careers Advice Service, Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council to bring careers advice to shoppers.

A mobile careers booth has been touring shopping centres across the country to promote the help and support available to the public. This initiative brought together the different services to provide shoppers with an introduction to careers information, advice and guidance.

At both locations the advisers were kept busy and most people booked for further more in-depth sessions, at a later date. Customers who visited the booth said the one to one attention made a big difference and many had been unaware of the help and support available to them.

The joint working between the services was a very positive experience and both the nextstep and the Careers Advice Service have seen an increase in referrals and local awareness as a result of these events.

A colleague from the Careers Advice Service commented “it has been a delight working with the nextstep advisers [because] they were keen to see customers and were enthusiastic and flexible in their approach.”