Jeff Cuthbert, Deputy Minister for Skills
This was published under the 2011 to 2016 administration of the Welsh Government
Careers information advice and guidance services are currently offered to school and further education students as well as to persons not in school or further education. In 2012-13 these services are delivered through a single national contract with Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa (CCDG). CCDG is a company limited by guarantee which has been formed by, and now owns, the six Careers Wales companies that previously delivered in specific operational areas within Wales.
On 28 January 2010 the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning (now the Minister for Education and Skills) announced his intention to reorganise delivery of careers services so that these are provided through a single unified structure. This intention is strongly aligned with the recommendations contained in the independent reviews of careers services undertaken in 2009 and 2010, Careers Wales – A Review in an International Perspective; and Future Ambitions: developing careers services in Wales.
Ministers have considered options for the future delivery of careers services in Wales from April 2013. Following a review of the legal and financial implications of different options, Ministers have decided to transfer CCDG into public ownership with effect from April 2013, subject to finding a satisfactory solution to the handling of CCDG's pension liabilities. A critical element of this decision was whether the service lent itself best to public or private sector delivery.
The Welsh Government has approached the CCDG Board to seek the consent of CCDG to pursue this route, which has been granted. I would like to express my gratitude to the Board and staff for their support and co-operation during the decision-making process.
Over the coming months, my officials will work closely with CCDG to implement this decision; and I look forward to developing a closer working relationship with CCDG during the process.