Careers advice and guidance

Youth Support Team

Suffolk County Council's Youth Support Services Team work alongside many partners, businesses and keystake holders across the skills and employment support system in Suffolk, to invest, develop and inspire skills and training opportunities for young people in Suffolk. 
For more details contact skills@suffolk.gov.uk

Year 11 options

There’s lots of choice for young people when it comes to making decisions about where and what to learn when they leave Year 11.  See our page 'What are my next steps after Year 11? 

icanbea

Want to know more about local businesses? icanbea is designed to help young people navigate the large spectrum of employment possibilities in Suffolk and Norfolk.

They provide information on the most important employment industries in the East, as well as providing direct links with the key companies and the opportunities they offer.

If you’re an organisation, company or educational establishment in the Norfolk and Suffolk region and want to get involved with this council-backed charity project, please email team@icanbea.org.uk.

The Source: information and advice for young people 

The Source is a website for young people in Suffolk managed by Suffolk County Council's Children and Young People's Engagement Hub Team.

It provides information and advice and sources of support on everything from work, training, and education options to health and wellbeing, relationships, housing, money issues and much more.

To see how it can help you look at your career options, go to The Source website.

National Careers Service

Call the National Careers Service helpline for information and advice about jobs, careers and training if you’re 13 or older in England.

• National Careers Service helpline: 0800 100 900
• Text messages: 07766 413 219
• Textphone: 0800 096 8336

The National Careers Service provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service is confidential, and provides impartial advice which is supported by qualified careers advisers.

To find out more, go to the National Careers Service website.

Support for schools, teachers and advisers

Local Labour Market Information: resources for schools

Next Steps: Information for young people aged 13 to 19. This booklet is aimed at supporting knowledge about the local labour market and pathways in Suffolk. There are also a set of sector posters for use in the classroom.

To accompany the booklet, we have also produced a guide for practitioners that gives an overall introduction to using Labour Market Information with young people.

Download the Next Steps resources:

Support for Young People with additional needs

Suffolk County Council has produced a guide that includes lots of information to support transition from age 16. It covers information on education, training, work and leisure, health and social care and contact details for key services. ­

Please go to preparing for adulthood and employment for further detailed information.

Norfolk and Suffolk Careers Hub and Enterprise Adviser Network (EAN)

The Norfolk and Suffolk Careers Hub and Enterprise Adviser Network (EAN) are part of a national initiative designed to improve the quality of careers education in secondary schools, colleges and special schools. These programmes help young people explore future career options, develop employability skills and make informed decisions about their next steps.

Locally, the Careers Hub works with over 145 education institutions across Norfolk and Suffolk, building strong partnerships with employers and organisations of all sizes. These include businesses in key growth sectors such as digital technology, clean energy and construction. By connecting education with the world of work, the Hub helps ensure that young people are better prepared for their future careers.

The EAN is managed nationally by The Careers and Enterprise Company and delivered locally in partnership with Suffolk County Council and Norfolk County Council. Enterprise Advisers are volunteers from the world of work who support schools and colleges to develop effective careers strategies and strengthen employer engagement.

Visit the Norfolk and Suffolk Careers Hub to learn more about how these programmes are delivered locally.

Visit the Careers and Enterprise Company website for national information.

Careers advice for adults

If you are looking for careers advice for adults in Suffolk, please go to the adult learning and careers advice page where you can find opportunities to improve your skills and confidence or learn something new.