In 2023/24, Go Higher West Yorkshire partnered with C+K Careers to deliver a Higher Education Careers Coaching programme for learners in Years 10–13. The programme was shaped with direct input from participating learners and centred on two one-to-one sessions with a careers coach.

In the first session, learners explored their skills and strengths, set a personal goal, and identified practical steps to work towards it. The second session focused on reviewing their progress and reflecting on what they had learned.

Evaluation showed that the programme helped many learners develop a stronger sense of control over their future, particularly when they set a realistic goal and achieved it. Others improved their decision-making ability by recognising when an initial goal was unrealistic and adjusting it during the follow-up session.

Learners reported a clearer understanding of their own skills and strengths, with significant increases measured after taking part. These findings highlight the value of skills-based coaching and structured goal-setting activities within outreach—both as standalone interventions and as components of broader programmes.