Latest EAfA factsheet highlights importance of awareness raising and guidance in apprenticeships

Raising awareness about the importance of apprenticeships involves a variety of activities aimed at attracting people to apprenticeships as a pathway to achieving their career and employment goals. Guidance services, often referred to as career counselling or vocational guidance, provide personalised support to help individuals make informed and meaningful career choices.  

Both awareness-raising and guidance services are essential for the success of apprenticeships, benefiting individuals, employers and the economy. 

These activities help employers and the economy by aligning workforce skills with available job opportunities, enhancing labour market efficiency and helping to mitigate skill shortages. This is particularly important as the twin transition is reshaping the workforce. 

For individuals, guidance and awareness raising are crucial for making informed career decisions and developing the skills they need to manage their careers successfully. Additionally, targeted awareness-raising and guidance efforts can promote social inclusion and enhance opportunities for disadvantaged communities. 

Effective and widespread guidance and awareness-raising efforts require collaboration among various stakeholders, including educators, employers and community groups, as well as the use of innovative tools and digital technologies. 

This factsheet discusses all the above and more, providing compelling examples of good practice and exploring key success factors for effective guidance and awareness raising. You can download the factsheet from the ‘General publications’ section below.