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IES experts are available for comment and interviews. Their knowledge and views are supported by independent research and extensive experience.

Contact the Press Office: Email Steve O'Rourke or call 01273 763414

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  • The development of apprentice wages and the impact of the new apprentice rate of the National Minimum Wage

    Newsletter articles

    1 Sep 2013

    Pay for apprentices in the first year of their apprenticeship, or generally for apprentices under the age of 19, had been exempt from the UK’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) regulation when this was first introduced in 1999. This exemption remained in place when a NMW was introduced for 16-17 year olds in 2004. While some recommendations for minimum weekly earnings levels for apprentices existed in England, a single hourly rate regulated within the NMW framework was only introduced on 1 October 2010.

  • Apprenticeship systems in international comparison

    Newsletter articles

    1 Sep 2013

    New research for the International Labour Organization (ILO) has examined apprenticeship systems in 10 countries around the world, with a view to highlighting key trends and good practice to help India review its apprenticeship system. Although systems vary between countries, there are nevertheless many common features and trends.

  • ESF-supported apprenticeship schemes in EU member states

    Newsletter articles

    1 Sep 2013

    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.

  • IES Viewpoint: When can we expect some light at the end of the UK jobs tunnel?

    Newsletter articles

    1 Sep 2013

    We last looked at the state of the UK labour market in this column just over two years ago. We noted then that there was little sign of a return to prerecession unemployment levels. Two years on, we can perhaps be forgiven a certain Groundhog Day feeling.

  • Heading to zero?

    Blog posts

    5 Aug 2013

    ‘I have long since taken the view that politician and media hype on flexible labour markets has got in the way of finding benefit in flexible work arrangements.'

  • Are you just paying lip service to diversity?

    Blog posts

    2 Aug 2013

    ‘This month, I have been thinking about diversity and in particular the composition of senior teams and boards. There was a lot of talk around the time of the financial crisis that mixed-composition boards might be more robust with members more willing to challenge each other. But has this chatter actually had any impact on top team composition?'

  • Building on strengths for engagement and performance

    Newsletter articles

    1 Jul 2013