Hence, the big idea of Connexions was "the new profession" (also known as "the personal adviser"). This profession was to be created, seemingly overnight, by a short training programme designed and funded by the Department for Education and Skills.
This training process lacked intellectual roots and robust independent external validation. Happily, wiser counsels eventually prevailed and this naive concept is gradually transmuting into how to develop new roles and skills in different professions and better multidisciplinary work.
The latest big idea is the youth opportunity card. Actually, this is not new. Versions exist across Europe, including the Young Scot card. Several English local authorities provide forms of youth discount card for leisure and transport. Some years ago the Government in England launched its Connexions Card at a cost of 140m. This has not been a conspicuous success: the most recent evaluation said that less than four per cent of 16- to 19-year-olds had redeemed points and "usage tends to be more from highly qualified and easy-to-reach young people".
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