One minute guide: Start in Leeds

What is Start in Leeds

Start in Leeds is a digital online portal which provides a wealth of support to young people as they pursue their future career ambitions. Start in Leeds provides help for young people to investigate different career options, as well as learning, training and employment opportunities.

Leeds City Council is committed to ensuring that all young people and their families are better informed about the jobs, careers and opportunities available to them in the city and beyond. Start in Leeds plays a key role in this work and provides a crucial pathway to support young people’s transition from learning to earning.

It is a key source of impartial information, advice and guidance for all young people, wherever they are learning, and is a universal resource provided by Leeds City Council to support young people in Leeds to transition from school into work.

How Start in Leeds supports young people

Designed and developed by U-Explore Limited - a company originally founded in Leeds - the localised Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) platform offers all young people moving through secondary school education and into work the opportunity to access the best and most up-to-date labour market information to inform their future study and career choices.

Optimised for mobiles and tablets and available for use in schools and at home, the platform aims to inspire young people about the full range of career opportunities in and around the city, helping them to improve their chances of securing high-skilled employment.

Alongside a digital profile and an online locker, young people are also able to create an online digital CV, which they can build up as they go through school.

Information for parents, carers, professionals, teachers and advisors

Research shows that young people are most likely to turn first of all to parents, carers or teachers for help and advice about planning for their future. Other practitioners such as personal advisors, learning mentors and youth workers also offer this support.

The website has free teaching resources to support inclusion of careers education within the curriculum. The platform can also be used by parents or carers, advisors and other practitioners outside of schools to support them in assisting young people and starting conversations.

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