Leaving school

An image of a sky where the sun is setting which features the silhouette of a directions signpost pointing in multiple directions..

if you are leaving school

there are organisations to support you

These organisations can help you to figure out your next steps after leaving school.

We’ve listed some of them below and explained how they can help:

Skills Development Scotland

Who are they?

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is Scotland’s national skills body. If you are planning to leave school, they can offer career guidance and advice as well as information about apprenticeships.

How can they help you?

SDS can provide you with information, advice and guidance on everything to do with careers and what you want to do after school. They have Career Advisors who are there to listen to you and help provide information about what next steps you can take.

How can you find out more?

Call the Skills Development Scotland helpline on: 0800 917 8000

Visit the Skills Development Scotland website

My World of Work

Who are they?

My World of Work is Scotland’s career information and advice website for people leaving school and entering work. It is part of Skills Development Scotland (SDS).

They also have advice and tools to help you find out more about yourself and the career opportunities open to you.

How can they help you?

The My World of Work website has advice and tools to help you find out more about yourself and the opportunities open to you. You can set up an personal account and use these tools to help you discover careers that match your skills, strengths and interests.

My World of Work is part of the careers service offered by SDS. They have careers advisers who can help you identify what you’d like to do and develop the skills you need to make choices and manage your future career.

If you are at secondary school in Scotland you can talk to a careers adviser through your school. Outside of school you can speak to a careers adviser in SDS centres across Scotland. They are there to support you no matter what age or stage you’re at. You can find your closest centre by visiting their website and entering your town or postcode.

If you prefer, you can speak to an adviser on the phone by calling 0800 917 8000 on Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

How can you find out more?

Call the My World of Work helpline on: 0800 917 8000

Visit the My World of Work website

Lead Scotland

Who are they?

Lead Scotland is a charity that supports disabled people and carers. They work across Scotland to provide information and advice on post-school learning and training opportunities for pupils leaving school.

How can they help you?

Lead Scotland support people with a disability to participate in learning and other opportunities. They run a variety of projects across Scotland. You can find out more about these by visiting their website.

Lead Scotland also have a helpline and information service. You can speak to someone on the freephone helpline by calling 0800 999 2568 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2pm to 4pm and on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10am to 12pm.

How can you find out more?

Call the Lead Scotland helpline on: 0800 999 2568

Visit the Lead Scotland website

Enable Works

Who are they?

Enable Works supports young people with learning disabilities to find employment opportunities.

How can they help you?

Enable Works has a number of different projects that young people with disabilities can benefit from.

Their Stepping Up programme operates in schools across Scotland. It supports young people aged 14-19 to develop skills and confidence. It also helps them to identify which things they’d like to do and thei next steps that they can take.

They also support young people with their Breaking Barriers, All In and Fair Start Scotland projects, as well as mentoring. You can find out more about these opportunities and how to access them by visiting their website.