Officials vow to create a ‘more streamlined’ and less ‘confusing’ careers advice service

Members of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority’s (GLCCA) employment and skills board discussed the authority’s careers action plan – which seeks to provide job opportunities into industries across the area.

Councillors were told that the government is in the process of merging National Careers Service (NCS) with Jobcentre Plus (JCP) to create a single, integrated Jobs and Careers Service (JCS) under the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The DWP said it will end outsourcing of the National Careers Service in England when current contracts expire on September 30 2026 – with services being brought in house from October 2026.

As part of its devolution deal, the GLCCA is looking at ways it could support the delivery of this new service and provide more opportunities for young people to work within industries across Greater Lincolnshire.

Officials said that the current careers education landscape in the county is delivered by various different providers and the GLCCA wants to simplify this to ensure the process is less confusing.

At a meeting on Wednesday, April 22, leader of South Holland District Council, Nick Worth (Conservative – Holbeach Hurn) backed the plans.

He said: “I think looking as it is at the moment, I think what I’d say is I’m pleased I’m not a young learner coming through now.

“The amount of career advice and volume of stuff from different providers must be confusing to say the least.

“So, anything that can simplify that has got to be better. So hopefully the National Careers Service can make a difference but anything in Greater Lincolnshire that we can provide a single piece of advice to young people to take their career forward would be really beneficial because I think it’s incredibly confusing.”

The leader of West Lindsey District Council, Jackie Brockway (Conservative – Saxilby) said the council was happy to work with GLCCA officials to develop the action plan.

She added: “West Lindsey (District Council) would like a bit more involvement in this action plan.

“We’d like to add all of our understanding. We’ve done an awful lot with the Gainsborough Aspiration Project – bringing youngsters forward, giving them opportunities.

“I fully behind getting this going – a really strong powerful career service for these young people to shine.

“I mean simple things like how to dress for an interview. You would not believe how many youngsters do not know the basics.

“We’ve got a huge opportunity that we certainly as a council would like to be as universal as possible.”

Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Rob Waltham (Conservative – Brigg and Wolds), who was chairing the meeting, explained that the GLCCA wants to work with businesses to create a more ‘streamlined’ process of getting careers advice.

He added: “One thing I think we’ll all be aware of is that we do want to remove any duplication.

“We want a really streamlined process here in which it’s well understood – perhaps on a page – so, wherever you sit as a young person, it’s absolutely connected to what the opportunity is.”