In the current climate, the launch of the new National Careers Service in England is a cheering ray of light in a gloomy world. Despite fierce constraints on public spending, the government has secured the resources, and political will, and the Skills Funding Agency is now funding a service, which provides online and phone guidance to adults and young people, and face-to-face guidance to people over 19, through a network of contractors and subcontractors, at over 3,250 locations across England. The author believes that as adult guidance appears to be getting the attention it deserves, adult educators will have to find ways to demonstrate its impact if it is to survive future Treasury scrutiny.