Called My World of Work, the service provides a comprehensive list of careers, online CV help, updated university and college courses and job vacancies.The service will not replace face-to-face or telephone contact, but will help people comfortable with the web to self-help and enable SDS careers advisers to target their efforts at those who need support most.

Dr Alasdair Allan, Minister for Learning and Skills, (right) who unveiled the new service in an SDS advice centre in Orkney, said: “It combines the strengths of our careers advisers with the technology of today to provide a world leading careers service.

He added: “It’s available 24/7 from Shetland to the Borders and complements the valuable face-to-face and telephone services already provided by SDS.”

But The Herald reports  a mixed reaction. Unison released details of a survey of careers guidance staff which was critical of its roll-out, and found 96% of respondents did not believe the new system would offer high quality careers advice while a similar proportion felt it would “undermine” the careers guidance profession.

Michael McMahon, the Scottish Labour Party’s local government spokesman, said: “Those who want to move to a web-based delivery system have obviously failed to notice that at least one third of Scottish households have no internet access.”