A Decade of Driving Change: Are We There Yet?
By Allison Giles, Strategic Careers Hub Lead, Berkshire Careers Hub
In 2016, the Berkshire Careers Network began with just 34 schools, one from each local authority—a small but determined collective of educators and employers who understood that careers education needed to be stronger, clearer, and better connected. At the time, our aim was simple but ambitious: build a network of employers who could work strategically with schools to shape the future of careers provision across the region.
Ten years on, that mission has grown into a fully developed Careers Hub, aligned with national policy, backed by evidence, and driven by collaboration. But the question I still hear—often from employers, educators, and policymakers alike—is this:
Are we there yet?
Honestly? No. Not yet.
And the reasons are complex.
The Changing Landscape of Careers Education
The careers system today looks nothing like it did when I started. The Gatsby Benchmarks, first introduced in 2014 as the framework for good career guidance, have now been refreshed and formally embedded into statutory guidance.
The Department for Education updated careers guidance in May 2025, confirming that the refreshed Gatsby Benchmarks would become the expected framework for all schools, colleges and independent training providers from September 2025.
This revised guidance also aligns the government’s forthcoming Work Experience Guarantee with a strengthened Benchmark 6, ensuring meaningful workplace experiences for every young person.
And so—with strong policy, a proven framework, and a decade of evidence—why aren’t we “there” yet?
The Capacity Challenge in Schools
Schools and Careers Leaders work incredibly hard. I see it every day. But they are trying to be all things to all people with:
- very limited capacity
- virtually no dedicated budget
- growing class sizes
- increased curriculum pressure
- fewer volunteers from business than ever before
Employers want to help—many do—but their time is squeezed, their workforce stretched, and the cost‑of‑living crisis means fewer can step away from day‑to‑day operations to support careers activities.
Meanwhile, students need exposure to the world of work more than ever before. Technologies such as AI are reshaping jobs faster than schools can redesign curricula. Students may be building strong technical or digital skills, but many lack the essential skills—communication, teamwork, adaptability—that are critical for real-world success.
So What Can We Do?
The answer is the same today as it was in 2016: we work together.
Careers Hubs exist to create coherence, to connect the dots, and to remove barriers. Our role is to:
- support schools
- connect employers
- signpost opportunities
- share best practice
- build scalable systems
…but even with all this, we still need more flexibility in the system to help schools and employers collaborate in the way young people truly need.
What We Aim to Achieve Next
Our Berkshire Careers Hub Five‑Year Impact Report set out clear priorities for the next phase of our work. These reflect both local need and national expectations:
1. Improved Quality of Careers Provision
Supporting schools and colleges to implement the updated Gatsby Benchmarks consistently and sustainably.
2. High‑Quality Employer Engagement for the Most Disadvantaged
Ensuring that those who need support most are not left behind.
3. Increased Awareness, Applications & Retention in Apprenticeships and Technical Pathways
Particularly in sectors vital to our local economy.
4. Improved Access to Interventions for Economically Disadvantaged and Vulnerable Learners
Addressing inequalities that widen as students transition to post‑16 and post‑18 destinations.
5. Careers Provision Aligned with Local Economic Needs
So every young person understands their local labour market and the opportunities it offers.
Ten Years On: The Road Ahead
Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come—from a small, emerging network in 2016 to a fully‑fledged Careers Hub driving strategic improvement across Berkshire. The collaborations we’ve built, the employers and Local Authorities who’ve stepped up, and the schools who’ve transformed their provision have created a foundation we could only dream of a decade ago.
But looking forward?
There is still work to do.
- We need a system that gives Careers Leaders time, training, and resource.
- We need more employers who understand the value of engaging early with young people at earlier stages in their education.
- We need a national and local framework that recognises careers education as essential, not optional.
And most importantly— we need to keep going.
Because every young person deserves meaningful experiences of the working world, clear information about their options, genuine opportunities that unlock potential, and a future they can step into with confidence.
Here’s to the next decade of working together to make that happen.
