Careers Learning Pilot

The Department for Education (DfE) developed a programme of Career Learning Pilots to test innovative approaches to lifelong learning and inform the design of the National Retraining Scheme. The Heart of the South West LEP was one of five areas conducting the Cost and Outreach (Career Learning) Pilots, which were designed to develop the evidence base on how more adults can be engaged and supported in learning.

The aim of the local Heart of the South West pilot was to explore the impact that tailored work coaching and outreach, when complemented by subsidised provision, can have upon the uptake of high demand technical and intermediate training opportunities.

The interim report highlighted:

• To successfully engage adults seeking to retrain, the NRS will need to address both barriers related to individuals’ attitudes towards career learning, as well as more practical barriers related to individuals’ personal circumstances.
• The range of career-related motivations cited by learners illustrates the diversity of messages that need to be conveyed as part of any outreach activity for the NRS. These messages will also need to be tailored to ensure they are engaging for the broad target group.
• Learners’ positive response to becoming aware of learning opportunities in the workplace emphasises the importance of employer engagement in the NRS – not only to support new recruits but also to communicate messages about the scheme and the offer of training to staff.
• Feedback from some learners that they would have welcomed more substantive IAG highlights the importance of having a more in-depth IAG offer for people who need it. This offer will need to be clearly communicated to ensure individuals are aware of what they can access, how and the benefits of doing so.