Careers advice and guidance

Support for ages 13-16

If you're a young person aged 13-16, you have the legal right to access independent and impartial information and advice from your school or college to help you make informed and realistic decisions about your future career.

Speak to your high school or college so they can direct you to the right person for guidance.

Support for ages 16-19

Aspiring Futures is the employment and skills service for young people aged 16-19 (and up to 25 for those with learning difficulties and disabilities) in Wigan borough. We offer support to those who are not in employment, education or training, helping them make a decision on what they want to do and find opportunities.

Our team of progression advisers provide independent and impartial advice and support to young people including:

  • Careers advice and guidance
  • Support with job searching, applications to college, study programmes, apprenticeships and traineeships
  • Job applications, CVs and interview preparation
  • Help with referrals to specialist services, agencies and training as appropriate.

Book an advice appointment with a progression advisor today.

Support for ages 15-19

Connect to Your Future is an ESF NEET project (2022-23) for young people in Wigan.

The project, commissioned by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to deliver this strand of its NEET and Youth Employment Programme, commenced in January 2022. It supports young people aged 15-19 years who are NEET or at risk of NEET, with the aim of mitigating the impacts on those young people most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, those who are experiencing disadvantage, and those not engaged with other provision.

This will be delivered through a comprehensive engagement and transition offer that will enable young people to successfully engage in employment education or training, and develop the skills and confidence to continue into a sustainable career pathway.

Tailored re-engagement support around wellbeing, confidence building, and resilience will be delivered one to one or by group support with a Progression Mentor.

For more information, please contact aspiring.futures@wigan.gov.uk

Support for ages 11-30

Greater Manchester Apprenticeships and Careers Service offer a unique careers and apprenticeship service for young people aged 11-30 in Greater Manchester. This includes useful tools and options to help you plan for your apprenticeship or career, local events and access to workplace encounters online.

Support for all ages

The National Careers Service provides support to help you explore your career options. Qualified Career Advisers offer telephone appointments tailored to suit your personal circumstances and can cover the following:

  • Redundancy
  • Securing employment
  • Upskilling and training
  • CV writing and interview techniques
  • Returning to work after a break
  • Flexible working for parents
  • Graduate opportunities
  • IT, Maths and English skills.

To get support visit the National Careers Service website (external link) or call 0161 393 6473.

Collecting information

We have broad duties to encourage, enable and assist young people to participate in education or training. Tracking young people’s participation is a key element of this. Local authorities are required to collect information about young people so that those who are not participating in employment, education or training, can be identified and given support to re-engage.

If you require further information about our services or would like to make an appointment to speak to a Progression Adviser, please contact the Aspiring Futures team.

© Wigan Council