‘Learn as much as you can about opportunities out there for your child’

There is, however, one area where family members are naturally the go-to source for information.

Most commonly, it is parents from whom young people seek guidance about their career prospects.

While friends are another key source of information,"Only 12 percent take note of social media influencers when planning their future".

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"It's a tremendous challenge for parents, particularly when their offspring are still unclear about their future career path," says Helen Dunne, the mother of a 17-year-old on the cusp of changing courses at sixth form.

Support for students from schools and colleges can fall short when they aren't keen on pursuing A-levels. Once they've achieved good GCSE grades, the challenge lies in finding a course that's suitably challenging yet aligns with their interests. We've found it's often more beneficial to focus on choosing a course they're enthusiastic about, rather than worrying about whether it will set them up for their entire career. After all, they'll have plenty of time to figure out their future aspirations.

Her experience is reflected in a thread on the Mumsnet forum, titled "Does anyone else struggle to give teen career advice?", where parents express their difficulty in offering guidance and voice their concerns that they might give misguided advice.

One mum admits to feeling caught between a rock and a hard place: “I want to guide them towards something they'll enjoy, yet I'm also keen to ensure it's a reliable option for them. To be honest, I'm not sure where to begin. Does anyone else share these concerns?”

These institutions should provide London teenagers, and their parents, with access to a range of educational, training and career opportunities.

This two-day event in London brings together academic and vocational subjects, training, apprenticeships and career opportunities in one place, to spark the imagination of young people from the city. As they prepare to progress beyond their current school environment, Step Up offers guidance on a wide range of options, from courses in arts, media and design to apprenticeships with major international companies. The event also provides support and advice on how to tackle GCSE exams and what to do if grades are disappointing, as well as offering tips and hands-on experience to help with applying to Oxbridge.

Gavin Sharp, a father of four and advisor for The Mix, a charity that offers help at Step Up, acknowledges the worries that parents have about their children's well-being. "Young people look up to their parents, as they're keen to win our approval," he points out. "Many parents draw on their own background, but the world has moved on."

Dan Keller, CEO of Unifrog and another exhibitor at Step Up, advises, "Educate yourself as much as possible about the diverse array of choices available for your child."

The tip for families is to remain open to every alternative - and put trust in your children.

When Yzzy Hardy chose to pursue an accounting audit apprenticeship with KPMG, rather than attending university, her parents had some initial reservations. However, after three years, they are now completely supportive. "Looking at what I've accomplished, they are really proud of me," Harding says. "Personally, I'm quite proud of myself too – I didn't expect I'd have opportunities like this when I first started out."

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