WorldSkills UK & CareerChat UK AI Chatbot CAT Supports Students
WorldSkills UK (WSUK) has partnered with CareerChat UK to deliver CAT, a customised AI careers chatbot designed to help young people across the UK explore apprenticeships, technical education, and meaningful career opportunities. This collaboration combines WSUK’s expertise in skills development with CareerChat UK’s innovative AI technology to make careers guidance more accessible, interactive, and personalised.
What is WorldSkills UK?
WorldSkills UK is dedicated to increasing awareness and participation in apprenticeships and technical education. The organisation works to challenge outdated perceptions of vocational careers while encouraging young people to explore dynamic, practical learning opportunities. WSUK achieves this through:
- Online careers content and high quality resources
- Live events and workshops
- National skills competitions
By providing students with access to real-world skills and career pathways, WSUK empowers them to make informed, confident decisions about their futures.
The CareerChat UK and WorldSkills UK Partnership
CareerChat UK shares WSUK’s mission of leaving no one behind in the search for meaningful learning and work opportunities. The partnership focuses on CAT, the customised AI careers chatbot, which offers:
- Instant access to trustworthy careers information
- The ability for users to connect with qualified careers advisers from national services when appropriate
- Content aligned with the UK Career Development Institute’s (CDI) Code of Ethics
By integrating AI with World Skills UK’s rich resources, CAT extends the reach of careers guidance, providing students with 24/7 personalised support that complements traditional in-person advice.
Key Benefits of the CAT Chatbot
1. Extending Reach Across the UK
World Skills UK already works closely with schools and colleges. With CAT, students can interact with careers exploration anytime, anywhere, increasing engagement and access to reliable information outside school or college hours.
2. Rich, Curated Content
World Skills UK offers a vast library of resources, including videos and interactive learning tools through the Learning Lab. CAT helps students:
- Quickly find the information relevant to them
- Navigate WSUK resources efficiently
- Access guidance on apprenticeships, technical careers, and emerging industries
3. UK-Wide Coverage
CAT is customised for all four home nations, providing region-specific careers guidance. All curated careers information is produced by professionally trained careers advisers, with safety guardrails built into the chatbot to protect users.
4. Complementary Career Resources
World Skills UK has also produced the “New Careers Advice Toolkit”, aimed at students aged 13+. This toolkit, combined with CAT, supports:
- Exploration of apprenticeships and technical career paths
- Closing the skills and knowledge gap in opportunity awareness
- Alignment with the UK government’s Modern Industrial Strategy (2025)
5. Personalised and Interactive Guidance
CAT provides data-driven, personalised advice for students, helping them make informed decisions. The chatbot can:
- Tailor guidance to individual interests and skill levels
- Provide recommendations on courses, apprenticeships, and career pathways
- Support educators with analytics on student engagement and progress
6. Supporting Educators and Time Constraints
CAT helps teachers, parents and careers advisers save time by providing instant, trustworthy advice for students. This allows educators to focus on high-value guidance, knowing that students can self-serve for routine queries. It also empowers parents/carers to have career conversations with their child(ren).
Why This Partnership Matters
The collaboration between WorldSkills UK and CareerChat UK addresses a critical need: ensuring that young people have access to timely, accurate, and engaging careers guidance. By combining WSUK’s expertise and resources with AI technology, the partnership:
- Enhances accessibility and equity across the UK
- Encourages uptake of apprenticeships and technical education
- Bridges the gap between careers awareness and actionable guidance
Shaping the Future of Careers Exploration
With CAT and WSUK’s toolkit, WorldSkills UK and CareerChat UK are redefining how students access careers guidance. The initiative demonstrates the power of AI, education, and professional careers advice working together to empower young people and bridge the skills gap.
This partnership ensures that students not only learn about opportunities but also take confident steps toward their futures, making apprenticeships and technical careers an accessible and attractive option.
