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4.7. Scotland

4.7.1. Summary
Arrangements for the delivery of career guidance services in Scotland have developed
differently from those in England, leading the main employer of career guidance practitioners
in Scotland to work with departments of the devolved government and local universities to
develop a new training course, the qualification in career guidance and development.

4.7.2. Policy and legislative initiatives
Career guidance delivery has evolved differently in the four countries that make up the
United Kingdom. In Scotland, Careers Scotland, a national organisation providing all-age
career guidance and employability services, has been established, funded by the Scottish
Government. Careers Scotland identified a need for a professional qualification that met their
needs more closely than the existing UK-wide qualification, in particular addressing:
(a) delivery of a needs-based, all-age career guidance service;
(b) the development of services provided such as enterprise and motivational ‘inclusion’
activities;
(c) a new emphasis on ‘career planning’ as a key skill to be acquired by school pupils and
developed throughout life; lifetime career planning underpinning lifelong learning;
(d) working with a wider range of client groups (e.g. adults facing redundancy).
The wide consultation undertaken as part of the feasibility study indicated that the status
quo was not an option, and that a broader two-year qualification at postgraduate level was
required. The major employer in the country, Careers Scotland, wanted to ensure that:
• the training available was appropriate for the changing context;
• those undertaking it were better prepared to enter the working environment;
• those outside central Scotland were able to train through distance learning, particularly
important for the more remote areas of the country such as the Highlands and Islands (the
lack of training in these areas was impacting negatively on staff recruitment and retention;
the company also wanted to increase the diversity in applicant background, since it
needed to deliver services to all the communities in the country).
The steering group decided that it was important to be clear about the learning outcomes
from a new qualification; consequently, between 2005 and 2007 Careers Scotland produced
a subject benchmark statement, outlining the competences required of those completing
professional initial training courses in career guidance in Scotland, fully reflecting the
consultation process. This statement was endorsed by the professional association and the
Scottish Executive, and published by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for higher
education. It was then used to inform the development of a new postgraduate qualification in
career guidance and development.
The contract to develop the qualification was awarded to a consortium of three
universities: the University of the West of Scotland (the lead institution), Napier University
and Strathclyde University. The benchmark statement was used to develop the qualification,
a process which took one year. An expert reference group was established to assist this
process:

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