Making the most of National Careers Week 2026 in your school

Taking place between 2^nd and 7th March 2026, National Careers Week (NCW) promotes careers education across the curriculum.

National Careers Week (NCW) is a week that focuses on careers guidance and skills development – as well as increasing awareness of the careers that are currently available. It brings together schools, colleges, universities, employers, careers professionals and community organisations to help young people explore the world of work and plan their next steps with confidence.

Virtual careers fair

A central feature of the week is the NCW Virtual Careers Fair, which enables students to explore employers, sectors and progression routes online. Teachers can use this as a structured classroom activity or homework task, for example, by encouraging pupils to research a sector and present their findings back to the class. This can help to increase their awareness of the study paths and jobs in the employment market, while building valuable presentation skills which will be needed in future employment.

In terms of further study options, a whole section of the Virtual Careers Fair is dedicated to exploring university, apprenticeships, vocational and technical courses. There’s even a section for those students who have no idea what they want to do, to help them understand what’s available (e.g., green careers) or encourage them to explore all the resources the fair has to offer.

There are also some great resources for teachers, such lesson activities, a parents’ guide to careers, worksheets to define career paths, podcasts, videos and a downloadable magazine

Partnerships in focus

This week is a great time to hear from local employers, former students and training providers to bring careers learning to life in your school. This can be formally, as in an assembly, or informally with a virtual Q&A session or chat. These kinds of interactions with people in the world of work can spark interest for students who may not have considered certain career routes before.

Read more about National Careers Week and get started here!

References

1. National Careers Week. Available at: https://nationalcareersweek.com/ (Accessed 3 March 2026)
2. #NCW Virtual Careers Fair. Available at: https://ncw26.co.uk/#intro  (Accessed 3 March 2026)
3. Plan your next steps. Available at: https://ncw26.co.uk/vcf-lobby/room-4/ (Accessed 3 March 2026)
4. Green careers. Available at: https://ncw26.co.uk/vcf-lobby/room-3/ (Accessed 3 March 2026)
5. Resources. Available at: https://ncw2020.co.uk/ (Accessed 3 March 2026)