- £500,000 boost to careers education in schools, including resources for teachers and parents.
- £150,000 new careers guidance bursary scheme for students from lower income backgrounds.
- Stronger link established between school leavers and 33,000+ university courses and 800+ UK employers through TARGETcareers and TARGETjobs.
The complementary nature of the organisations means that GTI now offers one of the most comprehensive careers support programmes for young people in the UK. This allows for a unique joined-up, end-to-end service for 12 to 23 year olds, supporting them at all key transition points and giving them access to over 800 employers through GTI’s TARGETjobs.
Last year, our trendence UK School Leaver Barometer reported that only 18% of 15–18 year olds thought they had enough information to make an informed decision about their future after leaving school. This new venture will see a significant improvement in the provision of information and guidance resources for young people, regarding their career and HE prospects.
Additionally, the Parental Influence survey carried out last year by GTI, AGCAS and EY found that 76% of school leaver parents didn’t know where to find advice online about alternatives to university. Now key influencers (i.e. teachers and parents) will be able to access an integrated range of services and resources to help their pupils/children understand their strengths, research their options, build skills and make informed decisions on career and further education prospects.
Adrian Wood, Co-Founder and Director of GTI commented:
“Inspiring Futures and GTI combined provides a unique service to help students make better informed decisions about their future, and to help employers and universities reach motivated school leavers. We greatly respect the excellent work Inspiring Futures has been doing for many years and look forward to supporting their work in schools.”
For 70 years, Inspiring Futures has been providing careers information, advice and guidance, with a national network of 80 professionally qualified careers advisers with expertise in supporting school age students. They are independent, impartial and professionally accredited: key pillars that will remain unaltered.
Virginia Isaac, Chief Executive of Inspiring Futures observed:
“Preparing young people for life and work after school is at the centre of what we do. By becoming a part of the GTI Group, Inspiring Futures will be able to make a step change in the way in which we support students and those who advise them. For the first time we will be able to offer an integrated, co-ordinated and tailored pathway from school, via further or higher education into employment.”
This move sees GTI’s continuation of support to school leavers through TARGETcareers. Aimed at aspiring school leavers, targetcareers.co.uk brings together in one place all the information pupils need to choose a career, apply to university or join a school leaver programme at 18, including careers information and advice, vacancies and over 33,000 university courses. In addition, it publishes The 100 Most Popular Employers for School Leavers – the UK’s largest employer ranking product aimed at school and FE college students.
One of the key benefits of the partnership will be GTI’s implementation of a new careers bursary scheme for schools with high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds. Overseen by The Inspiring Futures Foundation, £150,000 will be invested in the scheme every year to provide careers guidance and advice for 1,700 aspiring 15-18 year olds who have not previously had the opportunity to access one-to-one guidance from a professional careers adviser. Employers and other funders will also be able to invest in the scheme.