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Free Careers Advice and Guidance

As part of our commitment to every learner, Skills and Learning offer a high quality, impartial, relevant and confidential Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Service. Our team of expert Advisors will work with you, to understand your learning and career goals and to support you in reaching your potential.

We offer free careers and learning advice to all our learners in Dorset, regardless of your starting point. You will also receive a structured Action Plan to help you keep on track. We can support you in finding a job, progress at work or just to take the “Next Steps” in your learning journey.

Please note: This service is for those living in Dorset. If you live outside of the Dorset area and are looking for Careers Advice and Guidance please contact the National Careers Service.

Careers Advice and Guidance

Uncertain what learning or career path to take? Book an appointment with us!

We provide careers information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work at all stages in your career. We offer free appointments over the phone or via Microsoft Teams.

To book, email Helen on hwilkins@salbcp.com with your preferred day/time for appointment, and your current employment status/aims for the appointment.

We also offer General Information, Advice and Guidance appointments where our Advisors can advise on alternative Skills and Learning courses, volunteering, or non work-related activity.  You can book by emailing ahumphrey@salbcp.com

Book a Careers Advice appointment Book a General Information, Advice and Guidance appointment

Alternatively, you can book using the online form below –

Please give us an indication of what you are looking for – careers advice, or what support you are looking for etc.
Let us know if you would like your appointment to be on Teams or over the phone, morning or afternoon, and any particular day you would prefer. Please note: If you provide a specific date, we cannot always guarantee your appointment at that time. However, we will process appointment as soon as possible.
Please type YES in the above box to show you agree. To read our full terms and conditions visit: https://www.skillsandlearningace.com/policies/terms-and-conditions/

Why book?

Appointments face-to-face or over the phone

Our Information and Guidance Advisors are able to make appointments over the phone or through Teams. To book an appointment, use our online booking tool or call us on 01202 123444.

Impartial advice

We and our partners are proud to be Matrix accredited. The Matrix Standard is the Department for Education’s (DfE) standard for ensuring the quality of the delivery of high-quality information, advice and guidance. This means we provide, impartial and accurate advice. Our careers team will take your goals and needs in to account and give advice best suited to you.

Bespoke advice

We and our partners understand there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach for advice and guidance. That is why we promise to take the time to listen to your goals and ambitions, to support you in taking your “Next Steps”.

What is career advice?

Career advice is guidance and suggestions given by an experience adviser to those who need direction or help finding the right skills and jobs for their chosen career path by an experienced advisor. Careers advice can cover topics such as, job search strategies, interview techniques, networking tips, skills for career advancement and advice for work-life balance. The purpose of careers advice is to help you make informed decisions about their career and provide you will the tools and resources needed to achieve your professional goals.

Where can I get careers advice?

At Skills & Learning we offer advice and guidance to help you progress into your chosen career path. Our advisors can advise on Skills and Learning courses, volunteering, or non-work-related activity. We also work in partnership with the National Careers Service to enable us to provide information and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training, and work at all stages of your career. We offer free appointments over the phone, online or in one of our centres.

How can I get careers advice?

If you are looking for careers’ advice, Skills & Learning can help to support you. We offer information, advice, and guidance to help support you in finding work, gaining skills for your specific career goals, strengthening your interview skills and much more. If you would like careers advice you can book an Information, Advice and Guidance appointment with one of our experienced advisors on our website or call us on 01202 123444.

Why is career guidance important?

Career guidance is important because it can help you to make informed decisions about your career and work options, helping you to take actionable steps to achieve your goals. It can provide clarity and direction when it comes to career planning, and help you to navigate the job market, identify potential career paths, strengths and weaknesses and develop the necessary skills and qualifications to improve job prospects. In addition, careers guidance can give you the tools and resources to create a strong CV, cover letter or job application, as well as prepare for interviews and negotiate job offers. Careers guidance can be a valuable option if you are looking maximise your career potential.

Bespoke workshops for Skills & Learning tutors

Please note this is for Skills & Learning tutors only. If you’re a learner looking to enrol on a course, please take a look at our course search or contact us (DO NOT COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW).

If you are a Skills & Learning tutor working with a class or cohort of adults who would benefit from a bespoke workshop, we can help. These can be virtual or face-to-face.

We can help learners:

  • Explore career options and aspirations
  • Identify local work and volunteering opportunities in the local job market
  • Assess skills and discuss them in line with learners goals
  • Develop and enhance CVs

… and much more. To book your workshop, use the form below…

Please provide the name and some information about your class you’d like us to teach. Please let us know all the info you can, such as course code, location, subject, level, and the number of learners.
What would you like us to teach your class?
Our team will be in touch to confirm your booking. Please note workshops must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.
Please provide any additional information about your class that would help us provide the best session for you.

Our team will respond as soon as possible.

How can Skills & Learning help you with your career?

At Skills & Learning, we can support you in finding work, progressing at work or help to suggest courses for developing work skills to help you gain new skills and improve your job prospects.

Some of our courses…

What else do we offer?

It’s not just all about careers appointments. We also offer:

  • SWAPS (Sector Based Work Academy Programmes) -working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, SWAPs are short courses that prepare you to work for a specific employer with whom you are then guaranteed an interview. If you are unemployed and interested in joining a SWAP, please contact your Jobcentre Plus Work Coach.
  • Daytime, evening and weekend courses in over 50 subjects to support you in your education and training – search all our courses here.

Digital Hubs

Our drop in Digital Hub is specifically designed for those who want to learn basic computer skills at their own pace – you can start at any time and no need to pre-enrol. Using some pre-recorded material, remote delivery alongside hands on support from an on-site teaching assistant you will be guided to use a computer with safety and success.

We can help with using a computer, emails and internet tools, staying safe online, how to find jobs online, manage money, healthcare services and more. Tell us what you want to learn, and we will help.

No enrolment is needed; simply turn up on the day.

View Digital Hubs near you

Matrix Accreditation