Prostart Training aims to help all learners fulfil their potential and experience success through an educational environment, which responds to the individual needs and challenges of every learner.
Careers education and guidance (CAIG) is integrated into the learning at Prostart which prepares learners for the opportunities and challenges of working life.
Prostart is committed to providing an easily accessible, impartial and stable Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance (CIAG) programme. We pride ourselves on encouraging ambition and supporting individuals to achieve their education and career goals.
Through careers information advice and guidance our learners will:
- Acquire an understanding of the range of opportunities available through learning and work and of career progression structures
- Obtain an accurate assessment of their abilities and aptitudes in relation to future learning and work
- Develop skills to form and implement effective decisions
Integral to our mission is treating every learner as a unique individual, and this is the same approach we take with our CIAG provision.
We draw upon information from the Government’s evolving agenda in skills development, the importance of an all-age careers support, as well as taking inspiration from models of quality assurance from Ofsted, the Careers Enterprise Council, The Matrix quality standard and the Gatsby Benchmark principles in England.
Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory guidance
Prostart’s CIAG provision is aligned with the nationally recognised Gatsby Benchmarks, which provide a clear framework for good career guidance.
From September 2025, these benchmarks are statutory for:
- Learners aged 16–18
- Learners with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) up to age 25.
Prostart is committed to embedding Gatsby Benchmarks throughout all stages of career support to ensure every learner receives high-quality, personalised advice tailored to their aspirations and needs.
As part of this, parent and carer engagement in CIAG is mandatory from September 2025 for learners aged 16-18 or on an EHCP to the age of 2025. We will involve families as key partners in the career planning process, recognising the vital role they play in supporting learners’ development and future success. See Appendix 1
Prostart also meets the expectations of Ofsted and the Matrix Standard by:
- Demonstrating how Gatsby Benchmarks are embedded in CIAG delivery
- Engaging learners throughout their apprenticeship with career planning conversations
- Providing bespoke CIAG sessions to Study Programme learners and exploring real life work experience environments through work placements and employer visits
- Providing independent CIAG to address learners’ specific career needs
- Monitoring learner progression, providing personalised guidance, and tracking destination outcomes to ensure positive impact.
- Ensuring staff are qualified to level 3 in CIAG and offering Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for key staff
This ensures our CIAG programme remains current, inclusive, and impactful — preparing learners for lifelong success in education and careers.
External quality assurance and matrix accreditation
Prostart recognises the importance of external quality assurance and holds itself accountable against the Matrix Standard — a Department for Education owned international quality standard for Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG). We routinely seek external review and have successfully passed re-accreditation inspections since 2008 and gained re-accreditation in 2024.
CIAG support throughout the apprenticeship journey
As a learner, you will have career education, information, advice and guidance throughout your journey. This may come from our:
- Recruitment team when applying for apprenticeship vacancies
- Learning & Development Coaches, who discuss career goals and development during training plan calls and progress reviews, tailored to individual circumstances
- Tutors, sharing real-world applications and career insights linked to learning
- The progression Padlets Padlets – Prostart offering further study options and labour market information
- Careers Padlet Career Planning which includes videos, podcasts and articles on career-related topics
Prostart aims to:
- Provide an easily accessible, stable careers programme that meets learner needs at every touchpoint
- Use labour market information to deliver relevant knowledge, skills and behaviours training to keep learners competitive
- Tailor support to individual learner needs
- Link curriculum learning to career progression via skills development, expert teaching, employer engagement and End-Point Assessment preparation
- Collaborate with employers to design industry-relevant training aligned with business goals
- Collate and act on feedback on CIAG service
- Promote quality Careers Information, Advice and Guidance to benefit all learners.
Prostart’s strategy and policy is driven through our Quality Improvement Plan
Related Policies & Documents
Statement of Service
Feedback Charter
Careers Education and Guidance Policy and Procedure
Information & Resource Centre Policy & Procedure
Recruitment IAG Policy & Procedure
For more information on the Gatsby Benchmarks, visit Gatsby Good Career Guidance.
For details on the Matrix Standard, visit Matrix Standard.
https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/educators/gatsby-benchmarks/
https://matrixstandard.com/standard/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-provision-for-young-people-in-schools/careers-guidance-and-access-for-education-and-training-providers
https://www.gatsbybenchmarks.org.uk/