Is the Work Programme working?
Three new reports from the evaluation of the Work Programme have been published by the Department for Work and Pensions.
ESF-supported apprenticeship schemes in EU member states
The proven benefits of schemes which combine work and study and allow young people to acquire their first work experience have led to increased recent policy interest at both national and EU levels. As a result, apprenticeships and traineeships have become more prominent in the EU’s employment and youth policies, against the backdrop of increasing youth unemployment. IES has carried out a review of apprenticeship and traineeship schemes across the EU, which highlights the benefits of these schemes.
Innovating work
It is easy to think of innovation as being something 'out there', something that is focused on new products, new IT or new services, something directed at customers or consumers. In a project for Eurofound, IES has recently been looking at innovations being made in work organisation and how these can support the productive or innovative capacity of organisations.