Government’s ridiculed careers quiz cost taxpayer £1.7m

People flocked to National Careers Service website last month after chancellor said people in ‘all walks of life’ should consider retraining

The government’s skills quiz was met with widespread ridicule (Gov.uk)

The government’s much-ridiculed careers quiz cost taxpayers almost £1.7million, it has been revealed.

The National Careers Service skills assessment was launched last year, but people flocked to the website last month after chancellor Rishi Sunak said that people in “all walks of life” should consider retraining amid an employment crisis sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.

The advice service prompted derision after offering users drastic life changes and careers people were unable to pursue during lockdown.

The 50 multiple-choice questions advised people to move into a wide range of different careers such as a football referee or cinema projectionist.

A freedom of information request submitted by CityAM revealed that the beta site cost more than £1.66m. As part of the cost, Hippo Digital, a Leeds based design consultancy, was paid £1.2m to build the website through a contract with the Department of Education.

The cost of the venture prompted criticism on social media today, with one person saying the government had discovered “a never ending money forest”.

While another individual said the government was a “disgrace” and that it had “diverted £1.7m of taxpayers’ money from helping 2.9m ExcludedUK”.

And another Twitter user said: "Wait, does this mean all those "which Harry Potter tea cup are you" quizzes on BuzzFeed and such cost fortunes?"

The quiz gave career advice depending on how the reader agreed to statements such as "I like to take control of situations".

The survey lasted five to 10 minutes and was likened by many people to a BuzzFeed quiz.

On completing it, some people were told the service had no career recommendations, while other people were given results including cabaret performer or DJ, despite widespread redundancies in the arts industry due to a national lockdown.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The discover your skills and careers tool was developed as part of the suite of free to access advice and guidance on offer from National Careers Service.

“The tool was designed to help people to take the first steps in reviewing their strengths and interests, and suggests possible future career options.  Our National Careers Service advisers are also on hand to provide personalised advice informed by local labour market intelligence.”