Teacher recruitment firm Celsian has launched a free support service for newly qualified teachers (NQTs). Known as CareerStart, the service offers help for NQTs as they move from university into their first job.

Each NQT is assigned a consultant who can provide advice or last minute lesson resources, and also has access to free London-based seminars on subjects including education and the law, classroom management and professional development.

Celsian benefits by attracting more supply teachers on to its books. As well as offering advice, consultants match up NQTs with available supply teaching posts. It has around 185 NQTs on its books.

Celsian hopes that CareerStart will encourage more new teachers to stick at the profession.

“It adds value to our offer of supply, not just for new teachers but for our schools,” said Angela Makepeace, Celsian’s training and development manager.

“The programme helps us to attract NQTs and helps them to achieve qualified teacher status.”