To ask the Minister for the Economy, given the significant public investment and staff resources already committed to developing the Careers Portal, to detail (i) the rationale for pausing the procurement process; (ii) a revised timetable for delivery of the project; and (iii) any assurance she can give that this project will proceed.

The project was formally paused following a decision of the Project Board on 7th May 2026 due to the absence of confirmed funding for 2026/27 and beyond. During the pause period officials are exploring alternative funding options and delivery models. The Project Board agreed that the pause should be used to assess whether:

a sustainable funding solution can be secured;

a viable delivery model remains available; and

the project can be delivered within available resources.

While it is not possible at this time to provide a revised timeline for delivery of the project, the next formal review is scheduled for early August 2026, when the Project Board will consider the outcome of work undertaken during the pause period. Any decision on whether the project should continue or close will be informed by the outcome of that review and the availability of funding.