The chief-executive of a Thames Valley careers advice charity and chair of Careers England has been awarded a spot on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2017.

Katharine Horler will receive an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for “outstanding commitment” to Adviza – which supports young people and adults who are planning their futures.

Ms Horler became chief executive of Connexions Berkshire in 2003, later taking on Connexions Thames Valley, which became a registered charity and was renamed the Adviza Partnership in 2011.

She said: “We have done a lot of difficult things in a positive way and I am proud of how we enable, facilitate and build people up.”

Chairman of the board of trustees for Adviza, Terry Stock, hailed Ms Horler’s work, saying: “Katharine’s determination to make a difference to people’s lives shines through everything she does. She is inspirational to staff, to partners, to volunteers, to other agencies and clients alike, no matter what challenges face her.

"She lives and breathes her passion for those most in need, finding new ways to fill funding gaps and new initiatives to inspire young people and adults.”

Ms Horler has led the development of multiple programmes including the social enterprise ‘Against the Grain’, the mentoring programme ‘Lucky Break’ and intensive support programmes such as ‘Energise’.

To find out more about Adviza visit www.adviza.org.uk