Careers advice in scotland and England is about getting clear, practical help before you choose a subject, course, job, apprenticeship, college or university route.

Introduction to Careers Advice in Scotland and England

Career information, information advice and guidance, and employability support can help young people and adults understand the world of work, compare different routes, and make better career decisions.

In Scotland, skills development scotland delivers free career information, advice, and guidance to individuals of all ages in Scotland, helping them understand the world of work and develop lifelong career management skills. In England, the National Careers Service provides similar advice services online, by phone and, in some areas, face to face.

Key services include:

• Scotland: Skills Development Scotland, My World of Work, sds careers centres, No One Left Behind, PACE.
• England: National Careers Service, Jobcentre Plus, school and college careers service teams.
• Both: apprenticeships, training opportunities, local council support, and other services.

What a Careers Adviser Can Help You With

A careers adviser or sds careers adviser can work in a school, community venues, college, university, Jobcentre Plus, or local guidance service.

They can help you:

• identify interests, skills, strengths and career goals;
• develop career management skills and confidence;
• use accurate career information and job profiles;
• complete CVs, job applications, UCAS forms and apprenticeship forms;
• prepare for a job interview, including mock interview practice;
• search local labour market information for your local area;
• access advice and guidance by phone, video, chat, online or appointment.

The advice is impartial, confidential and tailored to your ages, health, employment position and support needs.

Careers Advice for Young People in School

Every state secondary school in Scotland has a careers adviser from Skills Development Scotland who provides guidance on subject choices and future career options, available through lessons and drop-in sessions. In England, schools provide independent careers guidance from Year 8 to Year 13, often with fairs, employer talks and mock job interview days.

In Scotland, SDS advisers support S1–S6 pupils, including S2/S3 subject choices, senior phase options, and follow-up support after pupils leave school. In England, advisers help with GCSE options, A levels, T Levels, apprenticeships and college.

Parents can learn through My World of Work, NCS resources and local events. Around SQA results in early August and GCSE/A level results in August, expect extra helplines and advisers.

Digital Careers Tools: My World of Work and National Careers Service

My World of Work is Scotland’s digital careers site that offers tools to help individuals identify their skills and strengths, explore different career pathways, and access support for job applications and interviews.

Useful tools:

• My World of Work: free account, quizzes, Scottish Apprenticeships, CV tools, job search.
• NCS website: over 800 job profiles, skills assessment, course search, CV and interview tips.
• Both sites help users learn, plan, track progress and find further information.
• Both link to official training, employers, GOV.UK and Apprenticeships.scot.

Employability Support and Local Services

Careers advice helps you decide; employability support helps you move forward, often with a key worker, training and wrap-around help.

In Scotland, local authorities in Scotland offer Employability Services funded by the Scottish Government’s No One Left Behind initiative. The No One Left Behind service is Scotland’s employability scheme, open to people of all ages and backgrounds, providing support for employment, training, education, and career progression.

Employability support services in Scotland are delivered locally through Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs), which align support with local labor market needs and provide individuals with a key worker to assist them in their job search. Fair Start Scotland stopped new referrals in March 2024 but continues for existing participants.

In England, Jobcentre Plus, local council employment teams and UK Shared Prosperity Fund projects may cover digital skills, reading, writing, numbers, confidence, housing, money advice, mental health and health referrals.

Scotland has a distinct economy with high-growth industries including renewable energy, technology, life sciences, and financial services. Scotland is aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, creating demand for civil engineers, renewable technicians, and ESG specialists.

Apprenticeships and Work-Based Routes

Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn and gain industry recognised qualifications.

• Apprenticeships in Scotland are funded by the Scottish Government and administered by Skills Development Scotland, providing a combination of workplace experience and academic qualifications.
• There are three types of Scottish Apprenticeships: Foundation, Modern, and Graduate, each designed to cater to different levels of experience and learning needs.
• Apprenticeships are available to individuals of all ages, making them suitable for school pupils, school leavers, and adults looking to retrain or upskill.
• Scotland offers Foundation, Modern and graduate apprenticeships; England offers Intermediate, Advanced, Higher and Degree Apprenticeships through Find an apprenticeship.
• The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) allows individuals to map their current qualifications against Scottish standards.

Career Information, Advice and Guidance for Adults

Adults can access free career information advice and guidance at any stage.

In Scotland, speak to SDS on 0800 917 8000, visit sds careers centres, or use community venues. In England, contact NCS on 0800 100 900 by phone, webchat or local appointment.

PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) is a Scottish Government initiative providing support for individuals facing redundancy. Age Scotland collaborates with organizations to provide coaching and networks for midlife career changes.

Common reasons to get support:

• returning after caring responsibilities;
• retraining after redundancy;
• improving qualifications;
• trying to progress or find work.

Support for Disabled People and Those with Health Conditions

Inclusive guidance should offer additional support.

• Advisers can help disabled people explore job options, adjustments and employer conversations.
• Access to Work may fund equipment, job coaches, interpreters, travel, mental health support and interview help.
• Scotland: Working Health Services Scotland and Healthy Working Lives support employees and self-employed people.
• England: Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers and NHS-linked schemes can help.

Higher Education, Postgraduate Study and Career Development

Universities and colleges in Scotland and England offer careers service support during study and often after graduation.

They can help with choosing a course, internships, employers, networking, LinkedIn, assessment centres, postgraduate courses and graduate job applications. People who want a career as a professional adviser should search for CDI-recognised guidance qualifications. Prospects is also useful for job profiles and sector insight.

Preparing for Job Interviews and Applications

Many people need careers advice for CVs, applications and interviews.

• Building a strong CV is crucial for job applications; it should highlight your skills, experiences, and achievements relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• You can find job vacancies by checking an employer’s website, searching online job boards, signing up for job alerts, registering with a recruitment agency, or using networking sites like LinkedIn.
• When preparing for a job interview, it’s important to research the company, practice common interview questions, and prepare questions to ask the interviewer.
• Use templates, checklists and STAR examples from SDS and NCS.

How to Access Careers Advice in Your Local Area

Careers information advice and guidance is close to home.

• Scotland: use the SDS site, My World of Work call-back options, local council employability pages, and official contact details.
• England: use NCS phone, webchat, online search and council employment pages.
• Check opening times, booking rules, access needs and whether unique access arrangements are available before visiting.

Summary and Next Steps

Careers advisers, online tools and local employability support in Scotland and England can help you make better choices and take action.

• Contact a careers adviser this week.
• Create a My World of Work or NCS account.
• Explore local employability services.
• Book one appointment or complete one skills assessment to start building progress.