Stepping In, Moving Forward, John Yarham, Interim CEO, on leading with stability, quality, and ambition

Young people's desire to successfully navigate their future is enduring, but they need support to make their best next step.

Findings from over 230,000 young people across England via our recent Future Skills Questionnaire (FSQ), show that careers education is helping young people feel more prepared, more skilled, and more certain about their futures.

Notably, by Year 11, over eight in ten students reported having a plan for their next step. Their perceived readiness for work had increased significantly from Year 7 to Year 11. These insights underscore the positive impact of structured careers education in supporting young people's access to opportunities in the ever-changing labour market. However, more needs to be done, not least to ensure access is routinely available to all young people regardless of where they are from.

That is why I'm fiercely determined to be stepping in as Interim CEO at The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC), to play my part, and build upon the brilliant leadership of Oli de Botton, who has moved on to an exciting new role at No10. 
I entered the world of careers over 25 years ago, motivated by the desire to better prepare young people for the world of work. Growing up in a remote part of north Norfolk, exposure to jobs was extremely limited.

I want far better experiences for young people, whether they are in Cromer, Carlisle or Castleford. I have seen the impact of high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance; and my first-hand delivery experience leaves me with an abundance of admiration for those helping our young people to access technical and academic education, developing the skills they need for the future. 
I'm committed to that mission, and I believe it's never been more relevant.

Keeping our compass steady

Progress in recent years has been driven by a system rooted in coordinated leadership and collaboration across education, employers and local partners. Each plays a vital role. My role — and CEC's — is to ensure these efforts are aligned, supported and making a real difference in every region of the country. This foundation is driving our mission with clarity and purpose.

The careers system is building on strong momentum. The updated Gatsby Benchmarks will guide educators. Careers leaders' voices are being increasingly heard and adhered to by their school and colleges' senior leadership. Hundreds of thousands of young people's perspectives will be reflected through this year's Future Skills Questionnaire. And we are bringing employers closer to education through simpler, more effective ways to offer meaningful experiences that deliver against their skills needs.

Quality counts

Over the past decade, careers education has rightly focused on scale — expanding Careers Hubs, connecting thousands of schools and colleges with employer volunteers, and utilising the growing data set from educators, employers and young people to better target provision. As we build and continue the momentum, we must also maintain a focus on quality. As the system matures, high standards must remain central. That means focusing on outcomes, not just activities and driving continuous improvement for partners across the country.

Every careers encounter should build a young person's confidence, ambition and readiness for the future. Our Youth Advisory Group exemplifies this, bringing insight, challenge and lived experience to ensure what we deliver is both high-quality and truly relevant.

Always evidence-led

I've seen what makes careers education work overtime, from the frontlines of schools and colleges to national roles shaping policy and practice. Credibility is built over time, through consistency, collaboration and a clear commitment to evidence.

At CEC, we're proud that our local government partners place careers centrally in their work and skills ambition, working alongside expert groups like our Employer Advisory Group and through our Cornerstone Employers, whose contributions are vital to keeping our work grounded and informed. Their insights help us focus on what really makes a difference and how we can keep improving through stretching national standards.

The Gatsby Benchmarks have provided the bedrock for increased credibility for careers education, for the last decade. The recent updates to the benchmarks build on those strong foundations and push quality of provision even further. 
Whether we're working with schools, employers, or policymakers, our approach is clear: transparent, evidence-led, and relentlessly focused on what works for all young people.

Where next

We are proud to be the government's partner in delivering the new Work Experience Guarantee — a transformative opportunity to ensure every young person has access to high-quality, meaningful encounters with the world of work. Thanks to pilots already underway across school trusts and trials designed in partnership with regional ambition in Manchester, Liverpool, West Midlands and more, we're seeing how modern, flexible work experience can ignite ambition and build the skills that matter most.

We'll continue to build on the growing consensus across education and business about delivering brilliant careers provision, especially for those furthest from opportunity.

Together, with purpose

When I started my career, I wanted to make sure that young people in places like north Norfolk had better chances than I did. That drive has never left me.
Now, as Interim CEO, I'm inviting colleagues, partners, and stakeholders across the country to join me in shaping the next chapter. Whether you're in a school, a business, a college, or a local authority, your role is crucial, and your partnership is is valued.
Thank you for the trust and support you continue to show. This isn't just about keeping the engine running. It's about tuning it to go further, together.