Your guide to buying CIAG services from

Birmingham Careers Service

Get Started

Why choose Birmingham Careers Service?

Birmingham Careers Service is the perfect local choice for schools, academies and colleges wanting the best for their students. We are the local and long-established specialist provider of face-to-face careers guidance, and our not-for-profit service lets us give you the highest quality and best value for money.

Buying our flexible value-added service ensures you will be meeting your statutory responsibilities to provide independent, impartial careers information, advice and guidance for your students from Year 7 upwards under the Education Act 2011 and the Government Careers Strategy requirements.

Our Advisers are all experienced professionals: they are qualified to QCF Level 6/7 in Career Guidance and Development, have enhanced DBS clearance and benefit from continuous professional development.

We work closely with employers, training providers, FE Colleges, HE institutions and voluntary sector organisations and use local knowledge to help students make informed decisions about their next steps.

We have unrivalled experience of the local situation and are uniquely located within Birmingham City Council giving us access to current, high quality local and national labour market information including – progression pathways, labour market trends and future skills needed – which we share with our traded partners.

We have rigorous quality control measures relating to careers information, advice and guidance delivery. We are CDI Affiliated members. The quality of our Advisers’ delivery is regularly monitored and assessed. We conduct student evaluations about the CIAG services we deliver.

We are the chosen provider for a diverse range of schools and colleges across Birmingham, and some neighbouring local authorities – including: special schools, 11-16 academies and maintained schools; 11-18 academies and maintained schools, colleges and alternative provision. The majority of these have retained our service for many years.

Our delivery for students attending academies, schools and colleges in Birmingham is recorded using the local authority’s destination and tracking database: this reports directly to the DfE.

Delivery highlights from 2023/24 academic year

1

students across years 7 to 13 receiving a one to one personal careers guidance meeting. All students issued with an individual careers action plan.

1

group sessions delivered, on a range of topics including option choices, employability skills and applications.

1

special events delivered including mock interviews, career fairs, parent/carers evenings and coffee mornings

1

exam results sessions delivered in schools

The Gatsby Benchmarks

N.B The detail behind each Gatsby Benchmark are being updated from September 2025. However, the titles of each benchmark 1 to 8 will remain the same.

The Eight Gatsby Benchmarks Of Good Career Guidance Are:​

01

Every school should have an embedded programme of careers education and guidance that is known and understood by pupils, parents and carers, staff, governors, and employers and other agencies.

02

All pupils, parents and carers, teachers and staff who support pupils should have access to good-quality, up-to-date information about future pathways, study options, and labour market opportunities. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers may require different or additional information. All pupils will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.

03

Pupils have different careers guidance needs at different stages. Careers programmes should help pupils navigate their concerns about any barriers to career progression.
In addition, opportunities should be tailored to the needs of each pupil, including any additional needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils, young people with SEND and those who are absent.

04

As part of the school’s programme of careers education all teachers should link curriculum learning with careers. Subject teachers should highlight the progression routes for their subject and the relevance of the knowledge and skills developed in their subject for a
wide range of career pathways.

05

Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace. This can be through a range of enrichment opportunities, including visiting speakers, mentoring and enterprise schemes, and could include pupils’ own part-time employment where it exists.

06

Every pupil should have first-hand experiences of the workplaces to help their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks.

07

All pupils should understand the full range of learning opportunities that are available to them, including academic, technical and vocational routes. This should incorporate learning in schools, colleges, independent training providers (ITPs), universities and in the workplace.

08

Every pupil should have opportunities for guidance meetings with a careers adviser, who could be internal (a member
of school staff) or external, provided they
are trained to an appropriate level. These meetings should be available for all pupils whenever significant study or career choices are being made. They should be expected
for all pupils but should be timed scheduled
to meet their individual needs. The careers leader should work closely with the careers adviser, SEND coordinator (SENDCO) and other key staff to ensure personal guidance
is effective and embedded in the careers programme.

Our Activities

Available to purchase as part of a package or standalone

Personal careers guidance meetings, including a full careers action plan

8, 3, 2, 1

Depends on time allocated for careers meetings. Up to a maximum of 8 per day.

Small group meetings with a generic careers action plan

8, 3, 2, 1

Up to 4 x 1 hour sessions per day for a maximum of 6 students per session

Groupwork or presentations – choose from a wide range of topics or bespoke to meet your needs

Post-16 Options • Post-18 Options • Higher Education • Apprenticeships • T Levels • Labour Market Information • Employability Skills & Personal Qualities • CV Production • Decision making

7, 5, 3, 2, 1

Up to 4 sessions per day (30 students) Assembly – whole year group (0.5 day)

Work with parents/carers:

Attend Parents’ Evenings • Attend Year 9 Options Evenings • Coffee Mornings (SEND) • Transition Presentations (SEND)

1

0.5 day

Drop-in sessions at lunchtime/end of the school day

8, 3, 2, 1

30 – 60 minutes (replace 1 or 2 interview slots)

Careers Fairs/Events

1, 3, 5, 7

0.5 to 1 day delivery plus 1 to 4 days preparation time depending on scale.

Mock Interviews

2, 5, 7

1 day, plus preparation time

Transition support for young people with SEND or who are (or at risk of becoming) disengaged

8,7,3,2,1

Average 2 days per student but will be tailored to individual needs

Tracking And Follow-Up Support, Including A Year 11 Leaver Destinations Report

Only available alongside the delivery of a substantial service for Year 11.

8,3,2,1

At least 5 days required after GCSE results day, including attendance at results day.

Tracking And Follow-Up Support, Including A Year 11 Leaver Destinations Report. Available as a stand alone activity.

Ongoing intensive follow up and tracking support of Year 11 students. Delivery to take place during term time and summer holiday. Includes group introductory sessions in term time, ongoing intensive support during the summer holiday, attendance at GCSE results day, follow up and bespoke graphical destination report.

8,3,2,1

Up to a maximum of 10 days depending on size of cohort. To be delivered during term time and summer holidays.

What else do I need to know?

How can I use the days purchased?

You can pick and choose whatever careers activities you want, tailored to suit the needs of your students. We can deliver as many days as you need. For example, just 1 day to work with targeted students or as much as 1 day per week for the whole academic year to work across your cohorts.

Do I have to plan in advance how to use my days?

No – if you don’t have a definite plan that is fine, our service isn’t one size fits all. We work with you to design and deliver what you want, when you want it. You can decide as the year progesses, if that is a better way for you to plan your career guidance activities. Of course you can add more days later in the year if your needs turn out to be greater.

I’m not sure what our needs will be?

Not a problem – talk to us! We are very experienced in working with all types of learning providers and can help you plan and develop how our service can best meet your needs.

Feedback from our traded partners

Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 Pupil11-16 Academy
They were really nice and understanding to me and the conversation we had really helped me get a better understanding of what my career choices are going to be like This chat was beneficial for me since I wasn't really sure what to do in the future. I will have a look at all the links that I have been sent.
Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 Pupil11-16 Academy
I found that my interviewer helped me think about my future careers in more detail and in more depth which has made me start to think about what my fall back plans could be and how I could manage my education
Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 Pupil11-18 Maintained School
‘My Careers Adviser got me thinking about my career journey and the importance of planning early'
Keystage 5 Pupil
Keystage 5 Pupil11-18 Maintained School
My Careers Adviser inspired me to do more research after this interview I now know the range of grades to get onto my desired course at university.
Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 Pupil11-18 Maintained School
It was amazing, I had no clue what I would do after year 11 but I now do, I’m happy to know my possible future career.
Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 Pupil11-16 Academy
I am going to research more about the kind of careers i would like to do in the future by going on the websites and also going to open days. My Careers Adviser really motivated me so that I can do better and achieve the degree that I want.
Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 Pupil11-16 Academy
Found it very helpful and I now know what route to take and what grades I need
Keystage 3 Pupil
Keystage 3 PupilSpecial School
It was good to have a chat and that my Adviser listened to me
Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 Pupil11-18 Maintained School
I really liked the amount of new knowledge I was able to gain today, and it provided me with a different view into my career path.
Keystage 4 Pupil
Keystage 4 PupilAlternative Provision
It was good to learn about options I have after school like college or an apprenticeship
Deputy Head Teacher
Deputy Head Teacher 11-18 Academy
I would not be able to meet the needs of my learners if I was unable to access the CIAG traded service delivered by Birmingham Careers Service. The careers advisers who join us from BCS are consummately professional and hugely knowledgeable, they are an invaluable resource for students and staff. Not having this resource would mean I was unable to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks.
14-19 Coordinator
14-19 Coordinator 11-18 Maintained School
Working with your CIAG traded service means that we have access to a team of professional, qualified careers advisers. Accessing a team means that if staff are unavailable through previous commitments or other matters it means that we, as a school can still be supported. For us, accessing a team offers reassurance rather than accessing an independent trader who may not be able to provide the time or commitment that we would need Accessing impartial advice and guidance is crucial for students to make an informed decision about their future and your team have been consummate professionals in ensuring that standards have been upheld at every point of engagement Feedback from students has always been positive and they have found confidence in being able to make independent decisions that are right for them from a professional and informed, impartial team.
Headteacher
Headteacher 7-16 Special School
Accessing impartial advice and guidance is crucial for a student to make an informed decision about their future and your team have been consummate professionals in ensuring that standards have been upheld at every point of engagement Feedback from students has always been positive and they have found confidence in being able to make independent decisions that are right for them from a professional and informed, impartial team.
Assistant Headteacher/Careers Lead
Assistant Headteacher/Careers Lead 11-16 Special School
We have worked with our BCS careers adviser for 4 years and she has added so much to our careers offer. Our careers advisers skill set and experience of working with SEND students has been invaluable, she has made strong relationships with the students she meets. We have never had any issues with students walking out of meetings, if anything they find the careers adviser so welcoming, they tell her their life stories! Our careers adviser has been able to create and update extremely useful career action plans that accompany the student’s EHCP reviews to SENAR, and of course home to parents to help them. We have students from all over the city, so our careers outreach to colleges and training providers goes far and wide. Our careers advisers knowledge is essential to offer further detail to what students can do next. The city needs your CIAG traded service, and I will advocate your services to anyone who will listen to me!!
Proprietor/Headteacher
Proprietor/Headteacher KS4 Academy
The BCS careers advisers approach, rapport with the students and knowledge of career paths has been exceptionally useful to our learners. Our learners have SEMH difficulties, and the careers advisers approach has meant that impartial CIAG has been accessible to every one of our learners. As a result, all our young people have moved onto post-16 provision after leaving us.
Careers Lead
Careers Lead 11 – 16 Academy
The BCS CIAG traded service is deeply valued by both our learners and parents. Personal guidance is at the forefront of our schools Careers Programme as it helps to enrich the lives of our learners. Careers advisers are the link from school to Post 16 who can give insight into the world of work. The traded service gives us scope to work with our learners to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge for a school leaver and avoid the issues surrounding NEET. The traded service has enabled our school to reduce its annual NEET figures.
CEIAG Lead
CEIAG LeadKS4 Alternative Provision school
I would like to thank our BCS careers adviser for her ongoing support to our vulnerable, disengaged and SEMH students. We have worked together for over 6 years, and I have been impressed with how quickly she puts our students with additional needs at ease, her approachable nature and how well she listens. Our careers adviser is keen to know the student holistically, and investigates academic, social and SEND information before meeting with them. This marries well with her adaptability, if a student is absent, she re-arranges her schedule, keeping thorough records and returning career action plans speedily. Our careers adviser is keen to coax out the skills, attributes and dreams of individuals, she is always positive and encouraging. Realistic, yet aspirational. She has excellent current knowledge of the labour market and of Post 16 offers in a wide variety of sectors, localities and levels. Students are keen to see her and often ask for follow up sessions.
Assistant Head and SLT Careers Lead
Assistant Head and SLT Careers Lead11-16 Academy
I am incredibly grateful for the support provided by the careers advisers from Birmingham Careers Service. The careers advisers dedication to helping students navigate career choices is truly commendable. They have a wealth of knowledge about various career paths and a genuine passion for assisting students. Their personalised approach, attention to detail, and commitment to our success make them an invaluable asset to our school community.
Careers Coordinator
Careers Coordinator11-16 Maintained School
Our BCS careers adviser is always professional, has great SEN expertise and for working with vulnerable young people. She always reports back to me with any concerns that somebody else in school has not been aware of. She raises their aspirations and gives them the time to think about choices carefully. She gives detailed career action plans that are shared with pupils, staff and families as we simply do not have the time and knowledge to personalise in the way she does. Due to this vital partnership our NEET figures are continuously low between 0-2% in the last 5 years. This also shows that from the guidance our pupils receive the vast majority stay in their post-16 learning place until completion.
Careers Coordinator
Careers Coordinator 11-16 Academy
We have found your CIAG traded service to be invaluable in helping to support our students and families, the wealth of information on the Birmingham Careers Service website is a much valued resource for us. The BCS careers adviser delivers our 1:1 guidance interviews to our students and has done for a number of years. We find her to be incredibly knowledgeable and supportive, she goes above and beyond in her role, always willing to offer advice and share her expertise. The students respond well to her calm and approachable demeanour.

get in touch

If you have any queries, would like to find out more about our services, or want to discuss any other requirements, please contact:

Sian Powell
Traded Delivery Manager
sian.powell@birmingham.gov.uk