Acknowledged contributions from hon. Members on the importance of soft skills in professional development, recommended using Skills Builder’s framework in statutory careers guidance, and emphasised the need to combat child poverty while ensuring children and young people are not left to a career lottery. We are investing £15.8 billion in the financial year 2025-26 in apprenticeships, further education and higher education to address skills shortages. By developing a comprehensive strategy for post-16 education and skills, we aim to break down barriers to opportunity and support the development of a skilled workforce. Initiatives like career hubs are targeting young people from deprived backgrounds with tailored programs that connect them to local economies and employers. For instance, the Cumbria careers hub worked with 10 schools and the hospitality industry to provide real-world experiences for students. The data shows that high-quality careers provision is associated with reduced NEET rates by up to 20% in disadvantaged areas. To further accelerate progress, we are committed to improving careers advice in schools and colleges across England through updated statutory guidance that adopts evidence-based improvements from the Gatsby benchmarks framework.