Thousands of young people in the West of England who have been taking exams this summer will have even more support at hand after the launch today of a new Connexions West of England website.

www.connexionswest.org.uk is designed for young people and adults looking to progress in education, employment or training, and also provides useful information about Connexions West of England including the recently launched Education Business Partnership.

Importantly, the website comes online just when many young people are wondering what their exam results hold in store.

Staying at school is often the right option for those who want to continue their education beyond 16 in a familiar and secure environment. The website’s education zone helps young people to decide on the courses to suit them, whether academic or job-related, or a mixture of both.

For many, the path to further study or the world of work will be well mapped out but for others there will be uncertainty and a need for practical information, advice and guidance.

The new website therefore includes a CV toolkit and tips on how to write the kind of covering letter that will immediately interest a prospective employer. Want to know how to find those jobs which are never advertised? The website will tell you.

Those seeking training for specific jobs and careers can also find information which will point them in the right direction.

www.connexionswest.org.uk provides links to useful websites which can make the first steps towards work and training less of an ordeal and more of an adventure.

Parents and carers have a dedicated section aimed at providing them with information needed to support their young person in the choices they need to make. But, for many young people the steps to adulthood are complicated by a lack of support from family and friends that others may take for granted. The life zone tackles these issues head-on, pointing users in the right direction for advice on topics such as health, housing, the law, money, relationships and travel and transport.

Adults also have access through the website to careers information and advice services and information about learning, training courses and work, from a network of organisations across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire offering free and impartial advice. From August 2008 these services will be extended to those in Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Professionals who work with young people will have their own section providing them with useful resources to support them in their work, while the Education Business Partnership pages detail Connexions West of England’s information and brokerage service for education providers and employers, whilst also providing useful information on employing young people.

Keith Harrison, Chief Executive and Managing Director, said: “The website makes finding out about Connexions West of England and the services we offer so easy. If you are a young person thinking about your future or immediate choices or just want some advice, or if you are an adult seeking careers guidance my advice is use the website.

“If you are from a school or college or employer, then our website will provide you with essential information for developing the workforce of the future.”

Photo caption: Logged on … Jenny Mullinder (left) and Rowan Spodris, who are considering their options after sitting GCSEs at Cotham School, Bristol. Both are Young Consultants to Connexions West of England.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Connexions West of England by Montage Communications. For more information contact: Kevin Coughlan  Kevin@montagecomms.com or Matthew Anderson  Matt@montagecomms.com on 0845 644 5404 or Nicky Summerhill  nsummerhill@ConnexionsWest.org.uk on 0117 907 4456.

Notes to Editors

Connexions West of England is a local authority controlled company working in partnership with:

· Bath and North East Somerset Council

· Bristol City Council

· North Somerset Council

· South Gloucestershire Council

· The Learning Skills Council (South West)

Connexions West of England comprises three operational branches committed to increasing participation, progression and achievement of young people and adults by delivering services in a variety of locations and many localities throughout the West of England.

The Connexions Service

Connexions is a service for all young people aged 14 to 19 (up to 25 for those with a learning difficulty or disability). Through multi-agency working and the deployment of Personal Advisers (PAs) in a variety of locations and many localities throughout the West of England, Connexions provides information, advice and guidance (IAG), integrated and targeted youth support, referral to other services and access to personal development opportunities for young people.

The Education Business Partnership (EBP)The EBP at Connexions West of England supports the learning and achievement of young people through applied, enterprise and work-related learning. Offering an information and brokerage service to education providers and employers the EBP exists to link employers with education to develop the workforce of the future.

Adult Careers Service

Connexions West of England supports adults (over 20s) to plan, progress and achieve their potential in learning and work. In partnership with Cornwall and Devon Connexions (through a nextstep contract), we will be providing careers advice and information about learning, training, courses, career change and work throughout the South West from August 2008.