Skip to main content

Education and careers for 15 to 18 year olds

Connexions Bury

The information, advice, guidance and support service for young people in Bury

Connexions Bury is the independent and impartial information, advice, guidance, and support service for Year 11, 12 and 13 young people (15 to 18 years old), or up to the age of 25 if you have special education needs and/or disabilities (with an EHCP), who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). Connexions also work with Year 11 young people who are at risk of becoming NEET. Connexions services are delivered by qualified professionals called Personal Advisers who will support you to develop realistic and sustainable plans that are related to your aspirations. Connexions Bury holds the Matrix, a recognised national award, which means, that it has been externally assessed as an organisation that meets the criteria of providing high quality information, advice, and guidance.

Connexions is able to help you if:

  • In year 11, you are identified and referred by your school, because you need support with your post 16 plans
  • You have left school and have no plans in place
  • You have left college, employment or training prematurely and you have no plans in place
  • You are attending college, employment, or training and you are thinking of leaving with no next steps in place.

Connexions offer information, advice, guidance and support on:

Future Ready

A LA Grant NEET Project for Bury Young People.

The Local Authority (LA) Grant NEET project, commissioned through the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), commenced in April 2026 as part of the wider NEET and Youth Employment Programme. It supports young people aged 15 to 18 who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET, with a focus on those experiencing disadvantage and those not engaging with existing provision.

The project delivers a comprehensive engagement and transition offer, designed to support young people into positive education, employment or training destinations. This includes developing the skills, confidence and resilience required to sustain participation and progress into longer-term career pathways.

Support is tailored to individual need and includes targeted re-engagement activity focused on wellbeing, confidence-building and resilience. This is delivered through a combination of one-to-one guidance and structured group sessions led by qualified careers advisers.

What to do next

  • At school in year 11:
    • You need to contact your form tutor, careers teacher or support worker to request an appointment. The school will then either refer you to their careers adviser or Connexions depending on your situation.
  • Completed year 11:
    • You need to contact Connexions.

Other important information

Young people with specialist educational needs and disabilities (SEND) with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

Connexions workers within the SEN Team can work with and support a young person with additional needs until they are 25 years old. Initially, they will work with schools to identify those young people that need support with their transition plans. Further, we work with a wide range of organisations and agencies that support young people with SEND. EHCP support is targeted to young people at risk of becoming NEET.

Access to Careers Guidance in schools and colleges

You need to be aware that it is the responsibility of schools and colleges you are attending to provide careers guidance and that Bury Connexions no longer offer this service. Please will you contact your school or college for further details.

Your views count

It is important that we receive feedback from young people, parents and carers that have recently directly or indirectly experienced our services; to improve what we offer them in the future. Please will you follow the link so you are able to offer feedback: One Community Bury - Connexions.

Confidentiality and Connexions Bury privacy notice: Your guide to the information we keep about you

We offer a confidential service to young people and Connexions Bury is only able to share relevant personal information to named and categories of organisations to offer you an effective service. It is able to do this under their 'public task' duties authorised by the Education and Skills Act 2008. Consent from you is not required to share these types of information unless it is classed under UK General Data Protection Regulation as 'special category' sensitive type of information. Full details on how we treat and share your information is detailed in the Connexions Bury privacy notice.

Contact us

By email: Connexions@bury.gov.uk

By phone: 0161 253 7733

Further useful websites and information

Careers