Resources for More About Professions

Here you will find a selection of resources which we have found helpful. They are organised by topic. Also check out Sector Summaries for information on routes, qualifications and jobs directly from the professional bodies that represent the careers in each sector.

Here you will find resources for what is a profession and what it means to be a professional and what role professional and regulatory bodies play. There is also a wealth of information on Fair Access, from general information on access to the professions and information on organisations working to improve access to information about organisations representing specific strands of diversity such as Age, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Religion and Belief, Sexual Orientation and Socio-economic.

What is a profession and what it means to be a professional?

What does it mean to be a member of a profession?

What does it mean to be a member of a profession? -an interesting presentation, giving an overview on the responsibilities and duties that come with being a professional.

YouTube

Search for "Young Professional" on YouTube and lots of interviews will come up.

UNA-UK Young Professionals Network

The UNA-UK Young Professionals Network is a collaboration of young professionals with an interest – whether personal or professional – in peace, justice and sustainable development. They have around 2,500 members, based mainly in the London area. Their membership covers the vocational spectrum, encompassing individuals working in politics, finance, the NGO sector, fashion, CSR, academia, law and much more.

Professionalism pays

Professionalism pays - independent economic impact analysis reveals that individuals with professional qualifications and membership stand to gain £152,000 in additional earnings, over the course of their career.

Advantages of professional body membership

Read about the advantages membership can give you.

Members earn 37% more than graduates.

Britih Professions Today: the State of the Sector

Read British Professions Today: the State of the Sector.

Professionals in the UK form part of the backbone of the services-based economy, play key roles in the political process, and, perhaps most importantly, provide vital services in our
day-to-day lives. Yet, the professions have come under attack from dual fronts: from government, which often fails to consider professional expertise in relevant policy areas; and
from the general public, which has come to view professionals suspiciously in an era of declining deference to authority. How has this ambivalent state of affairs come about, and why do the professions continue?

Best paid jobs guide

Read the best paid jobs guide and find out what the average is for different jobs.

War on the professions

BBC Radio 4's Analysis: War on the professions from April 2008 - read the transcript of this discussion that looks at whether when we deal with lawyers, doctors, or other professions, are we enjoying a guarantee of truly "professional" service, based on ancient tradition and proud independence from outside interference? Or are we at the mercy of a highly effective closed shop, more interested in protecting its own members' interests than in serving society and consumers in the best way possible?

Public Trust in the Professions - Ethics, Trust and Integrity Conference

Keynote by Sir Philip Mawer - Public Trust in the Professions.

Professional Values for the 21st Century

The RSA project 'Professional Values for the 21st Century' aimed to encourage the development of a new model of a 'profession' and 'professionalism' for the 21st century, to refresh attitudes and practice in the old professions and encourage discipline, excellence and a service ethic in the 'new' ones.

What role professional and regulatory bodies play?

Role of Professional and Regulatory bodies

Open University’s information on the role of Professional and Regulatory bodies.

Mapping roles and responsibilities of Professional Bodies, Sector Skills Councils and Higher Education

General information on access to the professions

Access to the professions

Information from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Unleashing Aspirations Report

Unleashing Aspirations Report – the final report of the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions.

The government response to the Unleashing Aspirations.

Russell Group of Universities response – response from the Russell Group to Unleashing Aspirations report.

Entry to the Bar Working Party Final Report

Entry to the Bar Working Party Final Report – recommendations on improving access to the Bar for those from less privileged backgrounds.

University admissions by individual schools

Sutton Trust Report on University admissions by individual schools documents the extent to which a few highly socially and academically selective schools dominate admissions to the country’s leading research universities.

Organisations working to improve access

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) aims to improve work life for employees and employers. It provides information, advice, training, workplace projects, conciliation and mediation.

Business in the Community

Business in the Community offers advice and guidance to businesses on how to act responsibly and make a positive impact on their local communities.

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for those involved in the management and development of people. It develops and promotes interesting practice in people management.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, formed from the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission, works to eliminate discrimination, reduce inequality and protect human rights. The Equality and Human Rights Commission acts for all people, and has enforcement powers to guarantee equality. It has a mandate to promote understanding of the Human Rights Act. The EHRC offers employers and employees support, advice and information about employment-related issues and barriers.

Liberty

Liberty -a not-for-profit organisation seeking to protect civil liberties and promote human rights.

Government Equalities Office (GEO)

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is a new Department, with a remit to put equality at the heart of Government. The GEO is responsible for the Government’s overall strategy on equality (including a new Equality Bill and Public Service Agreement) and leads on women's issues across Government. The GEO reports to the Ministers for Women and Equality.

Employers for Carers

Employers for Carers is a membership forum for employers who want to support employees in their workforce who are carers. The organisation identifies and promotes the business benefits of supporting carers. It offers information on employment policies and practices that supports carers, and provides examples of interesting practice in the workplace for employers.

Working Families

Working Families works with parents, carers and employers to help find a better balance between responsibilities at home and work. It offers advice and solutions.

Age

Employers Forum on Age (EFA)

Employers Forum on Age (EFA) is an employers' organisation supported by UK business, multinational corporations, SMEs and the public sector. Its focus is on promoting the employment of more mature employees. This is especially important as the UK population demographics are changing, and there are greater numbers of mature people than ever before.

EFA aims to reduce age discrimination in the workplace. It offers organisations advice and best practice guidelines. Its objective is to provide employers with the support and the tools they need to recruit and retain older employees. Members of EFA include PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and GlaxoSmithKline.

Age Concern

Age Concern is a not-for-profit organisation promoting the well-being of all older people in various areas like employment. Click here for work and learning information.

Fairbridge

Fairbridge is a not-for-profit organisation offering support to young people, such as on routes into work and education.

Disability

Skill

SKILL a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of impairment in post-16 education, training and employment.

Youreable.com

Youreable.com has information, products and services for disabled people, includes some jobs and information on employment.

Employers Forum on Disability (EFD)

Employers Forum on Disability (EFD) is an employers' organisation supported by UK business, multinational corporations, SMEs and the public sector. Its focus is on employees with disabilities; it offers advice and best practice guidelines. Its objective is to provide employers with the support and the tools needed to recruit and retain disabled employees. Members of EFD include PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young and GlaxoSmithKline.

Employ Ability

Employ Ability is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to assisting people with all disabilities into employment.

Information on specific disabilities

For information on specific disabilities see:

Changing Faces

Changing Faces is a UK charity that supports and represents people who have disfigurements to the face, hand or body. It works with employers and employees to offer support, advice and information about discrimination and to ensure a workplace culture of inclusion for people with disfigurements. Barclays Group was the first business to sign the 'Commitment to Face Equality'.

Remploy

Remploy is an employment service working to increase the employment opportunities of people with disabilities who may be experiencing complex barriers to work. It works with employers and employees to help them identify, develop and make the most of their opportunities. It also provides specific services such as job coaching and training. It helps employers to identify the barriers to employment and by developing partnerships they support both employers and employees in the workplace. Organisational members include PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Asda, BT and the Royal Mail.

Ethnicity

QED-UK

QED-UK is committed to help realise this vision of a better society by becoming the UK's leading ethnic-minority-focused education, employment and training provider.

National Black Boys Can Association

The National Black Boys Can Association is a community led organisation providing black boys with educational opportunities, life skills, and the self-esteem, confidence and determination to succeed. It also provides black and minority ethnic (BME) people and employers with awareness of the barriers which many BME applicants face. It also provides knowledge, support and strategies for overcoming those barriers.

Race for Opportunity

Race for Opportunity is a national business network of over 180 UK private and public sector organisations across the UK promoting the business case for race and diversity. Its objective is to help organisations to underpin their business and diversity strategies with sound actions that will have a positive impact on their business. It provides support, information, legal information, case studies and a wealth of other advice to employers.

Gender

Fawcett Society

The Fawcett Society is a campaigning organisation working to promote equality between male and female employees in the workplace and other areas. Workplace related issues include pay, pensions, benefits, working hours and conditions. It raises employer/employee awareness, stimulates debate and campaigns for change. it can assist employers by offering advice, support and information.

Opportunity Now

Opportunity Now is a membership organisation for employers who are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for women. It offers advice and guidance on gender issues in employment.

Religion and Belief

Employers Forum on Belief (EFB)

The Employers Forum on Belief is an employers' organisation supported by UK business, multinational corporations, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the public sector. It was developed by employers to share good practice on religion, belief and non-belief. Its aim is to provide employers with guidance on legislation and help them to create a fairer workplace for all employees. Organisational members include KPMG, HSBC, Barclays and BT.

The Business of Faith

The Business of Faith is a project to assist businesses and employees in London engage with issues of religion and belief in the workplace.

Sexual Orientation

Stonewall

Stonewall is a lobbying group for lesbian, bisexual and gay people's rights, including employees rights. It works with a whole range of organisations to address lesbian, gay and bisexual employee needs in the workplace. Its Diversity Champions programme offers advice and support to over 400 organisations including Ernst & Young, GlaxoSmithKline, Pinsent Masons and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Stonewall has also raised public awareness in terms of changes to the employment regulations relating to sexual orientation through guides for both employers and employees. Stonewall is a member of the Equality and Diversity Forum, a network of national organisations committed to progress on age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, and sexual orientation issues. Members include Ernst and Young, Pinsent Masons and GlaxoSmithKline.

Stonewall – work information.
Stonewall – school information.

Press for Change

Press for Change is primarily a campaigning organisation directed to promote the rights of transgendered people. It provides employers with support, and information on issues around transgender issues in legal, medical, political and social matters.

Socio-economic

Internocracy

Internocracy is a new organisation which aims to widen access to internships to include those who are currently excluded due to not having the financial or social resources to spend up to three months working in a large city on little or no pay. It has just initiated a pilot support programme providing a group of interns with accommodation in university halls whilst they undertake their internship. It is hoping to extend this to include employability skills, training and social support.

Internocracy is also working to raise the quality of internship programmes across the public, private and third sectors by both benchmarking and spreading best practice in internships. Its aim is that every intern has an engaging and inspiring internship which adds tangible soft skills to their high level of cognitive skills.

Nacro

Nacro is a UK-based crime charity providing support and advice to ex-offenders. The charity is also able to provide support, guidance and information to employers who employ ex-offenders.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Careers

If Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Careers are important to you check out the University of Edinburgh’s website. It has useful information and resources around why CSR is important to organisations, what jobs are available, and what qualifications, skills or competencies are required. They also provide links to other sources of information and give advice on how to find a job in these areas.