NATIONAL CAREERS SERVICE, WEST MIDLANDS – INSPIRATION AGENDA
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in England introduced the Inspiration Agenda initiative in September 2013[1]. It is currently sponsored by the Department for Education (DfE) and funded through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) until the contract formally ends on 30th September 2018. This evaluation draws on evidence-based research, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, to help analyse the contributions of the Inspiration Agenda in the West Midlands, in meeting various stakeholders’ needs. From 1st December 2017 – 31st March 2018, a series of telephone interviews, desk research and email correspondence was undertaken with 37 key stakeholders from across the West Midlands.
With an allocated 5% budget of the overall National Careers Service West Midlands contract, this relatively small-sized team (4.3fte)[1] but highly trained (to at least level 6 and above) has managed to achieve significant and impressive results. The National Careers Service (West Midlands) received a ‘Good’ grade from Ofsted for its performance in 2016/2017. It meets the government-owned matrix standard and complementary to the work of the Inspiration Agenda team, Prospects Services offers the ‘Quality in Careers Standard’ (QiCS) kitemark to schools and colleges across England.
See full details of the report findings WM National Careers Service IA final report 100418 _
This complementary short video captures the voices of young people, teachers, employers and careers advisers – https://vimeo.com/264212549
Main achievements of the West Midlands’ Inspiration Agenda
1 October 2014 – 31 March 2018
Table 1
| Year | Number of Schools engaged | Number of employers engaged | Number of young people engaged in activities | Number of activities supported |
| October 2014 – March 2015
|
277 |
241 |
1,015 |
30 |
| April 2015 – March 2016 |
252 |
449 |
9,704 |
44 |
| April 2016 – March 2017 |
561 |
196 |
17,429 |
208 |
| April 2017 – March 2018 |
379 |
406 |
12,214 |
187 |
|
Total |
1,469 |
1,292 |
40,362 |
469 |
DO LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE REPORT FINDINGS – THANKS!
[1] Minister Matthew Hancock MP (then DfE/BIS Minister for Skills) championed the Inspiration Vision Statement[1]. At the time, the National Careers Service was being tendered, therefore, regional delivery arrangements were delayed until 1st October 2014.
[2] This figure includes repeat contacts.