Gatsby Benchmark 2
Learning from career and labour market information - All pupils, parents and carers, teachers and staff who support pupils should have access to good-quality, up-to-date information about future pathways, study options and labour market opportunities. Young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their parents and carers may require different or additional information. All pupils will need the support of an informed adviser to make the best use of available information.
Throughout each Key Stage, all pupils should be given access to clear, useful information about careers, pathways, and the job market to help inform their own decisions on study options and future steps. Parents and carers should also be supported in accessing this information so they can help their child/ren make informed decisions.
For further detail on BM2 see pages 11 – 13 of the Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Schools, Special Schools and AP’s and pages 10 – 12 of the Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Colleges and ITPs.
Please Note: we are continually developing these pages, please Get In Touch if links are not working or you have any ideas to help us improve the site.
Resources
- Labour market information and advice on job searching.
- Posters, videos and guides to inform young people about apprenticeships, technical education and employment pathways.
Explore apprenticeships – free online course
- This FREE course is designed for young people who are thinking about apprenticeships. Designed by Youth Employment UK and partnering with the Careers & Enterprise Company, this course will help young people to explore apprenticeships with confidence.
- This information is aimed at young people to support them to start exploring training and career possibilities.
- Useful information and guides on career pathways.
Institute for apprenticeships and technical education
- A list of apprenticeship standards available mapped to different occupational areas.
- Find out about post 16 options. Search and apply for sixth forms, colleges, training providers, apprenticeships and work experience.
- Parents and students can register to join the free programme for support with careers information and apprenticeships.
- Discover what different careers are actually like beyond job descriptions. Access information to support pathways into higher and degree apprenticeships.
- Information on pathways to university and apprenticeships, as well as advice about the UCAS application process, courses and subject areas.
The Careers People Post 16 guide
- TCP have created a Year 11 Drivers Manual for Options at the end of Year 11.
- Reed want everyone to find a job that helps them love Mondays. That’s why they have put together a wide range of tips - written by experts - in everything from CVs and interviews, through to finding the right job and career development.
On your doorstep video - built environment
- Inspiring Future Careers in the Built Environment: A New Video Resource for Educators. This dynamic video is designed to engage and inform students, teachers, and parents about the diverse career opportunities in construction, architecture, engineering, and related careers in the County. Produced with support from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and The Early Careers Show.
- Quick guides offering young people in Kent and Medway an overview of career options and the qualifications needed to succeed in each field. These snapshots help young people explore different paths, from apprenticeships to college and university.
Talking futures - parents website
- Talking Futures is a resource created to help parents/carers to have informed and constructive conversations with their child/ren about the different training and education resources available to them.
Amazing Apprenticeships – Parent & Carer Zone
- As a parent or carer, staying open-minded and informed helps you confidently support your child in choosing the opportunity that’s right for them; access information to support you.
- This information is aimed at young people to support them to start exploring training and career possibilities.
Post 16 Student Guide | The Careers People
- TCP have created a Year 11 Drivers Manual for Options at the end of Year 11.
- Find out about post 16 options. Search and apply for sixth forms, colleges, training providers, apprenticeships and work experience.
- Parents and students can register to join the free programme for support with careers information and apprenticeships.
The parent perspective podcast - amazing apprenticeships
- “The Parent Perspective” is an exciting podcast series for parents and carers, helping them to support their children with careers advice and guidance.
On your doorstep video – built environment
- Inspiring Future Careers in the Built Environment: A New Video Resource for Educators. This dynamic video is designed to engage and inform students, teachers, and parents about the diverse career opportunities in construction, architecture, engineering, and related careers in the County. Produced with support from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and The Early Careers Show.
- Quick guides offering an overview of career options and the qualifications needed to succeed in different fields across Kent & Medway. These snapshots help young people explore different paths, from apprenticeships to college and university.
- This information is aimed at young people to support them to start exploring training and career possibilities. This is useful information to support parental conversations
- A list of pathways for SEND students and other helpful SEND resources.
Institute of Students Employers (ISE)
- Information, knowledge base and careers events.
Kent & Medway Progression Federation
- Support for SEND and PP students with applying for and attending university.
Home - Local skills improvement plan (kentemployerskillsplan.org)
- The Local Skills Improvement Plan provides a roadmap to support the region in addressing skills needs and shortages and will enable further collaborative working and joint initiatives between Education, Business and Government services.
Nomis - Official census and labour market statistics
- Official census and labour market statistics.
The Careers People Post 16 guide
- TCP have created a Year 11 Drivers Manual for Options at the end of Year 11
- Adaptable template for ‘Job of the week’ using Icould video resources
On your doorstep video – built environment
- Inspiring Future Careers in the Built Environment: A New Video Resource for Educators. This dynamic video is designed to engage and inform students, teachers, and parents about the diverse career opportunities in construction, architecture, engineering, and related careers in the County. Produced with support from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and The Early Careers Show.
Careers advice for students & school leavers 2025
- This 2025 guide provides information about starting jobs and pathway options.
- An overview of labour market and skills data for selected geographic locations, such as LSIP area, local enterprise partnership (LEP) and mayoral combined authority (MCA).
- Quick guides offering an overview of career options and the qualifications needed to succeed in different fields across Kent & Medway. These snapshots help young people explore different paths, from apprenticeships to college and university.
Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit: Schools, Special Schools & AP
- The Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Schools, Special Schools and Alternative Provisions provides practical information and guidance on the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit: Colleges & ITPs
- The Gatsby Benchmark Toolkit for Colleges and ITPs provides practical information and guidance on the updated Gatsby Benchmarks.
The careers websites resource provides further links to support all stakeholders
Find out 'what good looks like' as well as links to resources and training to help you achieve Gatsby Benchmark 2.
Gatsby Benchmark 2 | CEC resource directory (careersandenterprise.co.uk)
