National all-age Careers Service launched

Online, telephone and face-to-face guidance expected to help millions

A new National Careers Service has been launched by the government today, which will offer work advice and learning information to people of all ages. The service will transform careers advice in the UK by combining highly-trained advisers with an interactive website, said the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The government estimates that the programme will handle up to one million telephone advice sessions annually and at least 20 million online sessions. Face-to-face guidance for up to 700,000 adults per year will be provided in a range of community locations, offering tailored information on the local labour market so people are aware of their areas growth industries. The website provides tools including a CV Builder and a Skills Health Check, designed to help people identify their strengths and address their weaknesses. Online users will also be able to open a Lifelong Learning Account, providing personalised advice on skills, careers and financial support. Launching the service this morning, skills minister John Hayes said: With competition for jobs more fierce than ever, now is the time to introduce a careers service that will deliver on its promise. The National Careers Service, universally available to people at all stages of their careers, has the very best interactive tools on its website and the highest-quality advisers, committed to the noble cause of helping others fulfil their aspirations, he continued. Making available the right advice at the right time and in the right places is to strike a blow for social mobility, social cohesion and social justice. The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) welcomed the new initiative, and reported that 42 per cent of 2,000 people it recently polled felt that they were falling behind in their careers. Petra Wilton, director of policy and research at CMI, said: According to the governments own labour market projections, we are set to see a rapid growth in management jobs over the coming decade. It is critical that aspiring managers understand what employers need and are given quality advice about how they can improve their skills to boost their career prospects. The CBI added that the business community had the appetite to play a bigger role in careers advice. We need to inspire people, especially young people, about career options and all the job opportunities that are open to them, explained Neil Bentley, CBI deputy directorgeneral. But, for the National Careers Service to be truly effective, it must have a programme of continuous engagement with businesses to ensure that impartial careers advice and guidance is always up-to-date and relevant. The National Careers Service replaces Next Step, which has been providing careers advice for adults since August 2010. It does not specifically address the careers advice offering in schools, but it is open to all ages and hopes to provide guidance for up to 370,000 young people each year.

Resource: http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2012/04/national-all-age-careers-servicelaunched.htm

PTCL Trains Executives for High Effectiveness

January 24 2012

Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) has trained 115 of its senior executives through an ongoing dynamic senior management program The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People pioneered by world-renowned U.S. expert, Stephen R. Covey

I congratulate our executives on this achievement, said Senior Executive Vice President HR, Mr. Syed Mazhar Hussain while addressing participants at the certificate distribution ceremony held at PTCL Academy, Islamabad. PTCL strongly believes that its talented and loyal employees are the Companys most precious asset. We are committed to the professional development of our employees beyond their current job. Thus, we are offering various opportunities for their learning, career growth and social mobility. A comprehensive three-days training program organized by PTCLs Training & Development department in collaboration with M/S Frankline Covey, The 7 Habits workshop helped participants to improve their performance by endeavoring at the highest levels of effectiveness and teamwork. Each habit was divided into segments and principles. With workshop facilitators help, participants applied their learning through case studies, group discussions, role-playing and reflective thinking. Mr. Hussain applauded the efforts carried out by PTCLs Training & Development team for making the program an exceptionally beneficial experience for its participants. The trainees highly appreciated the programs exceptional content and captivating methodology, declaring it as one of the best training programs they ever attended. We have a large training infrastructure spread throughout the country and we are investing heavily in our employees professional development through various training activities, said Shahzad Safdar Khan, Executive Vice President, Talent Management & Learning. Through successful initiatives like the Management Development Program, we are committed to making PTCL a customer-focused corporate organization by undertaking spectacular human resource development.

Reference: http://www.techinfo.pk/ptcl-trains-executives-for-high-effectiveness.html