WIREDGOV

New government website to help education leavers as they look at taking the next steps

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 07 August 2009

With the impending GCSE and A Level exam results and 300,000* students graduating this summer, Directgov, the nation’s official website for citizens, is launching What’s Next. The new resource from the government is for education leavers and their parents and can be accessed at: www.direct.gov.uk/whatsnext.

The new initiative is a central source of easy-to-understand information and guidance on a range of topics relevant to young people looking at their options after finishing education. The website covers higher and further education, training, financial support as well as practical advice for those looking for jobs.

This is a joint initiative between the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The What’s Next campaign will be further supported by a TV and radio campaign, which launches on the 8 August featuring the voice of Mighty Boosh star, Julian Barratt.

Tony Singleton, Chief Operating Officer at Directgov, said:
"All parents want to ensure their children get the best start to their independent, adult lives. In order to help parents feel informed, so that in turn their children can make confident decisions about their futures, parents need to understand all the options that are available."

For requests or for more information on Directgov’s role please call the Directgov team at 3 Monkeys Communications on 020 7009 3100 or email Directgov@3-Monkeys.co.uk

*According to BBC figures released on 10 January 2009

Notes to editors

- Directgov is the Nation’s official website and provides user-friendly, 24/7 information on all government services – including education, transport, tax, crime, the environment, employment – all in one place and in plain English.

- As well as being available on the website www.direct.gov.uk, which now attracts up to 18 million visits a month, it can also be accessed on any internet-enabled mobile phone, and on TV.

- In June 2009, the site received its 250,000,000th visit.

- www.direct.gov.uk is a Hitwise Top 10 Award winner for the quarter ending October - December 2008. During this period, www.direct.gov.uk ranked No. 2 based on market share of visits among all United Kingdom websites in the Hitwise Government - Central industry category. For more information, please visit www.hitwise.co.uk/

- Please note: Directgov is spelt as one word and with a lower case ‘g’.

Contacts:

Helen Beckett.
Phone: 020 7829 3817
helen.beckett2@directgov.gsi.gov.uk