Posted 23 June 2025

The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group (HOYEG) has been awarded the prestigious Matrix Standard for its Careers Guidance and Course Information services. This recognises the high-quality, impartial support it provides to over 10,000 learners across Castleford, Selby and Wakefield. 

As part of the accreditation process, inspectors commended the strong partnerships the Group has built with local universities, employers, and health and local authority services. These relationships ensure students benefit from seamless referral routes and access to up-to-date labour market information. 

The expertise and commitment of the Group’s Careers Team were also praised, with assessors highlighting the personalised, expert advice students receive. This support contributes to measurable outcomes – with student retention and achievement rates exceeding national benchmarks. Destination data also shows increasing progression to further study, apprenticeships and employment. 

One student commented: “We know who the Careers Adviser is from the start of our journey, and they meet with us one-to-one so we can explore our options. Our tutors also regularly ask about our future plans, and each week we talk about whether we want to come back to college, get a job, volunteer, or apply for an apprenticeship.” 

Leigh Allsopp, Group Strategic Careers Leader at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have once again earned this external recognition, which highlights the outstanding work of our Careers and Course Information teams. Their dedication, professionalism and passion are at the heart of this achievement. The thorough assessment involved detailed conversations with students, staff and stakeholders across the Group, alongside an in-depth review of our outcomes and impact. This result confirms that our students receive the high-quality advice and guidance they need to make confident, informed decisions about their futures.” 

As the Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY)/UniConnect Officer based at Wakefield College – part of the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group – I was proud to be invited to speak with the Matrix inspectors about how we support students with higher education advice and guidance. 

More recently, marketing teams from local HE providers have come together to collaborate on shared challenges. Amir Ilyas, Senior Marketing Officer at the Group, has been closely involved in this work. He explained one of the main issues the group is addressing: “Yorkshire continues to fall behind the national average when it comes to higher education participation among young people. Just 35.9% of 18-year-olds in our region apply to university, compared to 57.7% in London – and this gap is growing despite a rising population.” 

The Group is exploring the root causes of this regional disparity and is committed to working collaboratively to promote the wide range of higher education options available. The aim is to shift the narrative – positioning higher education as a long-term investment in future earnings and opportunities, rather than something solely associated with debt. 

Through GHWY/UniConnect, this work continues via targeted initiatives delivered in schools and colleges across West Yorkshire, helping to address inequalities in access to higher education. 

Within the Group’s own HE provision, we also have dedicated support for undergraduates and graduates as they plan their next steps. Andrew Cawtheray, HE Student Experience Co-ordinator, has played a key role in the Grad Skills initiative, which ran throughout the 2023–24 academic year. 

Andrew shared the impact of the project: “As a member of the Grad Skills consortium of West Yorkshire HE providers, we hosted the Grad Skills Leadership & Management course at Wakefield College last July. This was the only course in the programme to be delivered at a college, with the rest taking place at universities. 

“We welcomed 12 graduates on the day. The Project Manager was really impressed by the event – it was a fantastic mix of people from different backgrounds and experiences, and the discussions were rich and insightful. Feedback was very positive, with an average score of 4.7/5 for satisfaction and 4.5/5 for usefulness. 

“We were proud to show that smaller HE providers like ourselves can play an active and valuable role in regional collaborations.” 

The Grad Skills programme, funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), aimed to help graduates better understand the job market and strengthen essential skills such as leadership and communication. Although the programme has now concluded, the Group remains committed to taking part in future initiatives that support graduate development across the region. 

At a time when Careers Advice and Guidance services have suffered significant funding cuts – particularly within Further Education – it’s more important than ever to recognise and celebrate the good practice happening across West Yorkshire. The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group is proud to be part of a wider collaborative effort to improve life chances, support communities, and drive social mobility through high-quality education and guidance. 

 

Jayne Kaye, Senior Outreach Officer (Uni Connect), University Centre Wakefield