Careers Programme & Entitlement

Supporting every UCAN apprentice to plan, progress and succeed — throughout their apprenticeship and beyond.

At UCAN, careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) is an integral part of every apprenticeship we deliver. All apprentices are entitled to high-quality, impartial careers support that helps them understand their options and plan their next steps with confidence.

UCAN Careers Entitlement Statement

This entitlement applies to all UCAN apprentices, regardless of age, programme or background.

🧭Structured Careers Programme

A careers programme embedded throughout the apprenticeship, from initial assessment to completion and progression.

💬Ongoing Careers Discussions

Regular careers conversations as part of learner progress reviews with trained assessors and coaches.

📈Progression & LMI

Access to up-to-date information about progression routes, occupations and labour market opportunities.

🛠️Employability Skills

Support to develop employability, transferable and career management skills.

🎯Next Steps Planning

Clear information and structured support to plan next steps at the end of the apprenticeship.

⚖️Impartial Careers Advice

Access to independent and impartial careers advice at defined points during the programme.

UCAN Careers Programme

Our careers programme recognises that apprentices are typically employed adults learning in real workplaces. Careers learning is therefore embedded throughout the apprenticeship journey rather than delivered as a single event.

How Our Careers Programme Works

Apprentices develop employability, CORE and Power Skills through the apprenticeship curriculum, workplace learning and reflective activities.

Career aspirations and progression are discussed regularly as part of learner progress reviews with trained assessors and coaches.

UCAN works with an external, professionally qualified careers guidance organisation to provide impartial careers advice and action planning.

Towards the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices receive structured support to plan next steps such as promotion, role change, further learning or career development.

Careers Adviser Action Planning

Careers action planning meetings are delivered by an external, qualified careers adviser and recorded in UCANlearn using a standard format.

Apprentices subject to Gatsby conditions: Action planning within 3 months of their 19th birthday, and a second meeting if the programme extends beyond 9 months.
All other apprentices: One action planning meeting within the final 3 months of the apprenticeship, including the Gateway period.
Action plans draw on progress reviews, prior learning, CVs and employability evidence.

Quality, Impartiality & Safeguarding

Careers guidance at UCAN is delivered independently from training and assessment. UCAN retains responsibility for governance, safeguarding, quality assurance and continuous improvement.

Our provision is benchmarked against the Matrix Standard, Gatsby Benchmarks, Quality in Careers Standard (QiCS) and the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework.

Further Information

For more information about UCAN’s careers programme or your careers entitlement, please contact:

Careers Lead – UCAN
Robert Finlayson