With almost 29 million people out of work over the summer (see here for statistics), you would think the UK government had enough on its hands providing advice and support for the working-age professionals, new graduates, school-leavers and job-seekers, without extending its career counselling services to primary school children.

Nevertheless, the government has unveiled a new programme to provide careers guidance for pre-teens.

According to the government-owned programme management methodology (MSP, or Managing Successful Programmes), every successful programme needs a vision statement (a description of the new capabilities that will arise as a result of the programme’s delivery). In the case of this programme, the vision is “to broaden the horizons and raise the aspirations of children from deprived backgrounds.” (source)

Clearly a worthy goal – but how does the government plan to achieve this?

There are five broad targets put forward for this programme:

1. Challenge the “negative stereotyping” attached to a university education, as well as to certain careers;
2. Raise children’s awareness of what they can achieve;
3. Lay the foundations for wise subject-choices at GCSE and A-level;
4. Inspire children to succeed academically;
5. Encourage parents to think about the future career of their child, and how they can help prepare them for this.

Among the projects proposed to deliver these goals is the introduction of careers guidance into primary schools, with the intention being to continue providing professional advice about jobs and training right the way through secondary school. The first stage of this project is about to get underway in a trial being conducted at 38 primary schools in areas such as Bristol, Coventry, Manchester, Plymouth and York.

Other projects include the provision of a free careers mentor for every young person, as well as greater work experience opportunities for disadvantaged and disabled teenagers.

The success of this programme will be a long time in the proving. Clearly there will not be an immediate impact on the levels of unemployment; indeed, it is doubtful whether it will have any long-term impact on the statistics per se. However, it will undoubtedly provide more and better opportunities for those who are currently left high and dry, and will, with any luck (and some decent project management) foster a stronger sense of focus and direction among those leaving education for the increasingly challenging reality of the professional world.