Committee publication · Correspondence · 17 June 2026
Letter to the Minister for Employment, relating to the new Jobs and Careers Service
Summary
The Work and Pensions Committee chair writes to the Minister for Employment seeking urgent clarification on the Government's implementation plans for the new Jobs and Careers Service, launching 1 October 2026. The letter follows up on the Committee's September 2025 report and November 2025 Government response, pressing for details on transition arrangements, staff training, pathfinder trial outcomes, and performance measurement frameworks—commitments the Government made but has not yet fully delivered with less than four months until launch.
Key findings
- The transition plan promised by Government within six months has not been published despite the deadline passing in mid-May 2026; only confirmation that NCS contracts will not be renewed and the service will be brought in-house has been provided.
- Existing NCS sub-contractors and their experienced staff face deep uncertainty about their futures, with some businesses set to close and experienced careers advisors at risk of being lost.
- Government accepted the Committee's recommendation for a dedicated training pathway for careers advisers separate from work coach training but has provided no implementation details or confirmation of support for level 6 qualifications.
- Committee seeks update on learnings from pathfinder trials and confirmation that trials are complete and rollout is ready to proceed.
- Evaluation strategy for measuring performance of the new service remains under development; Committee requests detailed plans for tracking impact.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Debbie Abrahams MP, Dame Diana Johnson MP, Department for Work and Pensions, Work and Pensions Committee, National Careers Service, Jobcentre Plus
Notable line
“I am deeply concerned by the lack of detailed information there is about the transition to the new service.”
Key Quotes
“I am deeply concerned by the lack of detailed information there is about the transition to the new service.”
“These are experienced careers advisors, with deep and effective community connections. We cannot afford to lose their skills.”
“The six- month deadline passed in mid-May. I am not aware of DWP having published the transition plan, beyond confirming that the NCS contracts will not be renewed and the careers service will be brought in-house.”
“This is an especially fraught time for NCS contractors for whom the new service represents an entirely new business model and new contract arrangements.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗