Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has for the development of specialist careers advice for those considering careers in the creative industries.

We make advice available to help young people and adults make informed decisions about their options including careers in the creative industries.

The National Careers Service provides professional careers advice to young people and adults via a dedicated helpline, website and in the local community. The website contains a number of job profiles. These includes information on roles, skills and entry requirements for occupations and careers in the creative industries. All National Careers Service provider advisers are qualified professionals, most of whom are qualified to level 6 in delivering careers advice and have access to continuous professional development.

Schools have a statutory duty to provide access to information on the full range of options to their pupils aged 12 -18 years. This must include information on the full range of education and training options, including apprenticeships in many industries. Through their links with the Careers and Enterprise Company and programmes such as “Inspiring the Future”, young people have access to employers from a variety of industries. This contact helps to broaden their horizons and consider different opportunities.

We want to go further to ensure that everyone can find a fulfilling education or training route that is right for them, whether this is an academic route, technical route or apprenticeship. The Secretary of State confirmed in a speech to the Sutton Trust on 12 July that we will publish a careers strategy in the Autumn. This will improve the extent and quality of support for people of all ages.

We are implementing apprenticeship reforms to continue to improve the quality of apprenticeships for all, providing the skills that employers need to reach our commitment of 3 million starts in England by 2020. We want better apprenticeships in more sectors, covering more roles, including in the creative industries.