Institute for Employment Research » IER News & blogs (tag [careers guidance])

Co-designing an all-age careers framework in County Durham

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Evidence based research on co-designing an all-age careers framework in County Durham, commissioned by Country Durham and led by dmh associates, with contributions from the IER, has just been published.

New special issue on 'Praxis in Guidance and Counselling: New Frontiers'

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 14:00:00 GMT

Deirdre Hughes OBE, Associate Professor, has been working with Guest Editors from Derby, Dublin and Maynooth Universities on a newly published British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, Special Issue on 'Praxis in Guidance and Counselling: New Frontiers'. An open link to the Introduction is available on the journal website.

Career experts' conceptions of systems development in lifelong guidance

Wed, 10 May 2023 14:50:00 GMT

This article, co-authored by Dr Sally-Anne Barnes and Professors Jenny Bimrose and Alan Brown, reports the findings from a phenomenographic study of career experts’ conceptions of systems development in lifelong guidance settings. The results show that conceptions of systems development in lifelong guidance varied from minimal, aspirational, strategic to systemic.

IER research rated highly at IAEVG conference

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 14:24:00 GMT

A range of IER research was presented at the recent 44th International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG) online international conference 'Maximizing Potential of Career Guidance'. The conference was attended by career guidance and counselling professionals to share research and practice on how career guidance can maximise the potential of individuals and communities, education and economies.

Journal Special Issue on Decent Work, Inclusion and Sustainability

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 17:28:00 GMT

Along with IER Associate Fellow Dr Deidre Hughes OBE and Professor Maria Eduarda Duarte of the University of Lisbon, IER’s Chris Warhurst has guest edited a special issue of the British Journal of Guidance and Counselling (Vol. 49) on Decent Work, Inclusion and Sustainability. Just published, the special issue examines the implications for career guidance and working life transitions in the context of rising inequalities and inclusion deficits in labour markets internationally.

Together with Deirdre Hughes, Emma Benger and Mandy Ifans, Chris Warhurst also co-authored an article in this special issue on Building better futures: decent work, inclusion and careers support services in the UK.

Career: how to keep a professional employable?

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:08:00 GMT

As an invited panel speaker Sally-Anne Barnes joined the Career Summit on 28 October, organised by the Municipality of Porto through the Cidade das Profissões in Portugal.

The panel comprising Jaana Kettunen, Daniela Lourenço, Luís Sottomayor, Artur Queiróz and Gregoire Evequoz discussed how to keep a professional employable.

Sally-Anne drew upon recent research for the European Commission on lifelong guidance policy and practice undertaken with Jaana Kettunen from the Finnish Institute for Educational Research.

The panel was hosted by Carolina Maria de Bessa Ferreira from Cidade das Profissões and moderated by Teresa Espassandim, a specialist in vocational psychology and career development.

Online learning for careers guidance community

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 17:01:00 GMT

Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic and ongoing, Dr Sally-Anne Barnes and Professor Jenny Bimrose have been drawing upon their latest research to support the international careers guidance and counselling community by delivering online learning via a number of webinars.

Nearly 400 practitioners from professional associations and government departments from across the world have participated in the webinars and are drawing upon IER research to inform their practice. Webinars have covered recent research on how to support parents and carers in providing careers support, careers labour market information, and lifelong guidance policy and practice.

The role of lifelong career guidance in a new and changing labour market - blog by Sally-Anne Barnes, Jenny Bimrose and Alan Brown

Sat, 30 May 2020 14:25:00 GMT

Since the start of the pandemic, the UK Government has described the numbers of individuals applying for Universal Credit as ‘unprecedented’ with 2.5 million applications since the lockdown in March. So with unemployment levels at an all-time high and global changes to work and labour markets as a result of the pandemic unavoidable, this is the time to think about enhancing the system of support and guidance in the UK. A system is needed that not only supports those out of work to return to the labour market, but also supports those who have had to change their role, and/or take on new roles. What seems likely is that most of those who are more able, more skilled and more adaptable will return to the labour market faster, whilst those who are less skilled and less resilient are more likely to struggle to return to the labour market.

IER supporting international careers community

Wed, 27 May 2020 18:34:00 GMT

Throughout May, Sally-Anne Barnes, Jenny Bimrose and Alan Brown have been delivering a number of webinars for the careers community in the UK and internationally.

Webinars have covered their recent research on the role of parents in providing careers guidance and how they can be better supported, and lifelong guidance policy and practice in the EU. Training webinars are also planned on the use of labour market information (LMI) as part of the new learning modules available on the LMI for All website.

So far, webinars have been run for the Career Development Institute (CDI) in the UK, as well as the New Zealand Career Development Association (CDANZ) and the Careers and Transition Education Association (CATE) with many more planned over the next few months, including for Australia. Listen to the CDANZ webinar here.

Supporting and engaging parents and carers with careers advice to young people in their care - Blog by Sally-Anne Barnes and Jenny Bimrose

Sun, 17 May 2020 19:48:00 GMT

A recent report from the Resolution Foundation suggests that youth unemployment could rise by 640,000 this year and the Association of Colleges is predicting around 100,000 leavers will find it difficult to gain work and work-based learning. So with these record unemployment levels amongst young people predicted, an important issue that is likely to emerge strongly for the careers profession from the COVID-19 pandemic is exactly how educational institutions can maximise the impact of their work with parents and carers to support the young people in their care with their career education and progression. This, of course, also has the potential to help young people continue to learn and develop whilst away from their schools for any reason, including any future periods of social isolation that might be necessary as a result of recurrent waves of infection.