Search results

During 2003, the UK Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) began working on a large scale research project to collect evidence on the perceived and observable outcomes of advice and guidance. A key aim of the project was to identify, where possible, the additional benefits of receiving more in-depth support in the form of advice and/or guidance over that of receiving information alone. The longitudinal element of the research allowed this to be assessed in both the short and medium term. This report provides evidence on the impact of publicly funded information, advice and guidance (IAG) services, focusing on adults over the age of 20 and whose highest qualification level was National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level two or equivalent. The research aimed to identify changes to the baseline position of individuals taking part, particularly in terms of work, learning and career outcomes, and the role of IAG provision in facilitating any changes. Key findings are: IAG is generally more effective when experienced as part of a process, rather than as an isolated event; in-depth support is positively associated with a range of observable learning and career outcomes; in-depth support helps people recognise and value what they have achieved, increases confidence in planning for the future, and general self confidence; low-skilled adults are likely to need more than initial in-depth support if they are to make progress in the labour market; and people who receive in-depth support engage in a different, more work-focused type of learning experience in the medium term from those who received information only.