CareerChatUK commissioned by the North East Combined Authority (NECA) piloting CiCi in seven local authority areas
In a bold step towards transforming careers support with artificial intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs), the North East Combined Authority (NECA) has teamed up with CareerChatUK to pilot the innovative AI curated chatbot CiCi across all seven local authority areas:
- County Durham
- Gateshead
- Newcastle
- North Tyneside
- Northumberland
- South Tyneside
- Sunderland
As students across England received their GCSE, A Level, T Level, and VTQ results in August 2025, the pressure on careers advisers to provide timely, accurate, and empathetic support reached its peak. That’s when the Regional Lead for North East Ambitions, reached out to CareerChatUK with an idea: what if an AI chatbot could potentially help bridge the gap?
Enter CiCi – an AI-powered, 24/7 careers chatbot designed to support students during one of the most stressful times of the academic year. Whether students were celebrating top grades or facing unexpected outcomes, CiCi was there to offer instant information, clear guidance, and a calm, reassuring presence.
To ensure a smooth rollout, NECA hosted three dedicated training sessions for around 80 careers advisers across the region. Led by the team at CareerChatUK, the sessions equipped advisers with the knowledge and tools to make the most of CiCi’s capabilities, with CareerChatUK continuing to provide ongoing support.
But this isn’t just a one-off initiative.
NECA plans to continue offering CiCi to all seven local authorities beyond the exam results period, extending through to the end of October 2025. This pilot marks a significant step forward in combining human expertise with smart technology – ensuring that no one in the North East has to navigate their career choices alone.
