Becci Newton

Director, Public Policy Research

MA, PGCert

Becci is Director of Policy Research and brings 25+ years of experience in employment and education research. She leads a large team of social researchers, statisticians, economists and psychologists.

Her expertise covers young people’s employment and transitions to the labour market; worklessness and welfare-to-work by age, ill-health and other disadvantage factors; and skills supply covering technical education and apprenticeship, and adult skills provision. Threaded through her work is the instrumental effect of disadvantage in shaping labour market experiences.

Becci brings a track record of delivering complex, multi-method high quality evaluations and she is adept at synthesising evidence and devising actionable policy recommendations. She has delivered multiple impactful projects for Youth Futures, including its initial evidence review, its toolkit, and a literature review of systems change. She led the Evaluation of the Health-led Trials (Work and Health Unit) and is overseeing three of the Multiply Trials (Department for Education).

Education

2003 University of Brighton PG Cert (Distinction), Research Methods
2002 University of Brighton MA, Sequential Design and Illustration

Career

2002‑2004 Research Officer, Education Policy and Evaluation Unit, University of Brighton
2000‑2002 Research Officer, Brighton Business School, University of Brighton

 

CV Details

Get Britain Working: a welcome approach to fixing the employment support system

Employer investment in training in England

16-18 education: participation matters

Lifting the lid on the Youth Employment Toolkit: using the right tools for a challenging task

Plotting a course towards the labour market: Navigating the results of the Health-led Employment Trials

IES is proud to announce publication of the Health-led Employment Trials Evaluation

Creating system change: bringing services together to facilitate employment - lessons from the Advancement Network Prototypes

The cost-of-living crisis and 16-18 year-olds in jobs with apprenticeships

Levelling up participation by 16-18 year olds

Improving pay and job quality in Adult Social Care

This A Level scoring system is running counter to long standing policy aims: are we increasing the scarring that the Covid 2020 generation will experience?

The role of T Levels and Industry Placements in helping young people to weather the storm

Are apprenticeships the way out of this recession?

What are the long-term impacts for people who graduate into a recession?

Youth employment challenges in a post COVID-19 recession - is education the best protection?

Time well spent? The difference between ‘value’ and values in the HE student experience

Apprenticeships: Who are they really for and is government funding benefiting those who need it most?

The parties’ 2019 commitments on skills and lessons from the past

Apprenticeships: how to address gender and ethnicity pay gaps

Industry placements and T Levels - stepping up to meet the skills challenge

Apprenticeship Levy: is it working?

The heat is on: new uptake figures say it's time to make up our minds on the agenda for Apprenticeships

Adult Learners' Week: What next for adult Apprentices?

Future of Work: Behind the masks – good work for autistic women

Workwhile DevelopMentor programme evaluation (Stage 1)

Outreach Evaluation support

WLA LSIP Renewal

Embedded Maths

Tales Toolkit: Pilot Report

Slides: tackling youth employment

Evaluation of the PLIAS Step Up Programme: Final pilot evaluation report

Bar Council BWL 2025

Skills bootcamps and adult skills

What works in systems change interventions: A review of national and international evidence

Peep Exploring Together: Supporting the foundations of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)

Impact of summer programmes on the outcomes of disadvantaged or ‘at risk’ young people

Summer Schools: Toolkit technical report

Plan for Jobs Cross-cutting Evaluation Wave 1 and 2 synthesis report

Sutton Trust Impact Analysis

YFF Youth Employment Toolkit 2.0

YFF Self Employment Trial

Evaluation of London Multiply

Barristers Working Lives 2023

Barristers Working Lives 2023

Refugee Employment Programme (REP)

Gatsby Adult skills bootcamps evaluation

CYA "Forging Futures"

Apprenticeships, basic skills training, life skills training, mentoring/coaching, off-the-job training and on-the-job training

The impact of wage subsidies on the employment of disadvantaged and/or marginalised young people

Work Coach Provision of Employment Support

Catch up Literacy Evaluation Report

Health-led Employment Trials Evaluation

Evaluation of the Health-led Employment Trials: Synthesis report

YFF Synthesis of evaluations of ‘systems change’ interventions

Systematic review of the impact of summer jobs and education on young people's outcomes

Pilot and Feasibility Study for ‘Step Up’

YFF ELATT "Connected Youth Evaluation" - Year 2

YFF ELATT "Connected Youth Evaluation" - Year 1

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships

SomersetWorks Partnership College Pilot Evaluation

SomersetWorks Partnership College Pilot Evaluation

Extended and more flexible traineeships: A process evaluation

Using interactive, video learning with AI to improve soft skills acquisition

GLA Working Integration Network Academies

Supporting good mental health amongst London’s FE learners

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the job interview process

Skills Bootcamps process evaluation

A better future: Transforming jobs and skills for young people post-pandemic

Skills Accelerator Early Evaluation

Central London Forward Green Jobs and Skills

Evaluation of the W1 Skills Bootcamps and design of W2 evaluation

Improving understanding of the demand for and supply of skills in the West London labour market

Covid class of 2020, and beyond

Promoting an Age-Inclusive Workforce

The impact of COVID-19 on low-income households

Moving out to move on

Support for Industry Placements

Greater London Authority

Cedefop(2020). Empowering adults through upskilling and reskilling pathways

Developing an Inclusive Growth Strategy for the London Borough of Lewisham

Planning and preparing for later life

Evidence review: Supporting unemployed and disadvantaged young people into and towards meaningful work

Evaluation of T Level Industry Placement Pilot

The quality of work on offer to young people and how it supports the building blocks for a healthy life

Evaluation of the Industry Placements Pilot

Evaluation of the Industry Placements Pilot

Teachers', leaders' and governors' views on the pay framework

Thinking ahead: A review of support provided by employers to help staff plan for their future

Evaluation of the 18-21 Work Skills Pilot 1

Assessment of public interventions to combat labour market segmentation in four EU Member States

Understanding employers' views and practices in providing employee support from mid-life through to retirement

Rapid evidence assessment: parents' decisions about returning to work and child caring responsibilities

Technical Education Work Placements Pilot Project Evaluation

The 2015 ESA trials: a synthesis of qualitative research with claimants

Summary: The 2015 ESA trials: a synthesis of qualitative research with claimants

Health-led Trial

Investigation into post-16 occupational standards in international technical education

Effective curriculum practice below level 2 for 16- to 17-year-olds

Evaluation of the Healthy Working Wales Programme - In Work Support Operation

Investigation into post-16 occupational standards in international technical education systems

Rapid evidence assessment - parents' decisions about returning to work and child caring responsibilities

Evaluation of Communities for Work

Early leaving from vocational education and training

Tackling unemployment among disadvantaged young people

Process evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers

Research into the ESA Claimant Trials

Slides 'Apprenticeships in England: developments, challenges and practices'

Reading list: Apprenticeship further reading

Evaluation of the new Jobcentre Plus approach to providing support for 16-17 year olds

Infographic: Interim findings on the Apprenticeships Trailblazers

Evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers: Interim report

Phase 2 of the Evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers - case studies

Work Programme Evaluation: the participant experience report

Work Programme Evaluation: Operation of the commissioning model, finance and programme delivery

Evaluation of Day One mandation of prison leavers to the Work Programme

Evaluating mandatory maths and English training for young jobseekers: 18-21 Work Skills Pilot

Innovative Models of Effective International Practice in Training Early School Leavers

Evaluation of Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds - Phase 2

Evaluation of Day One Access to the Work Programme for prison leavers and Employment and Reoffending Pilot

Evaluation of the Pathways to Apprenticeship programme

Evaluation of Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds

Evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers

Evaluation of Activity Agreements Pilots

Young People in Jobs Without Nationally Recognised Accredited Training

Articulating the Additional Value of Volunteering

Evaluation of the Youth Contract Programme

Apprenticeships and Gender and Race Equality

Review of Apprenticeship Research 2013-2014

ITV Fixers

Evaluation of Diversity in Apprenticeship Pilots

Evaluation of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Grants

Youth Contract for 16-17 year olds: an evaluation

The Youth Contract for 16-17 year olds not in education, employment or training evaluation

Practices and Evolutions in Apprenticeship Training Policies in Europe

Research into under-representation, by gender and ethnicity, in Apprenticeships

Under-representation by gender and race in apprenticeships

Evaluation of the HSE worker involvement training courses

Labour market segmentation: Piloting new empirical and policy analyses

Who advises? Who certifies? Qualitative Research into the issues of broadening who can certify and advise for incapacity benefit

Report for NAS: Good Practice Evaluation of the Diversity in Apprenticeship Pilots

Evaluation of phase 4 of the Trials to support Raising the Participation Age

Universal credit and self employment

Expanding and Improving Part-time Higher Education

Supporting disadvantaged young people into meaningful work

Process Evaluation of Support for T Level Industry Placements

Volunteering: Supporting transitions

Activity Agreement Pilots - trialling different approaches to re-engaging young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)

IES Response to the 14-19 Consultation Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16

Barriers to the uptake of Investors in People: A sector analysis

Training Participation by Age Amongst Unemployed and Inactive People

Evaluation of the Advancement Network Prototypes

Evaluation of the Advancement Network Prototypes - First Interim Report

Evaluation of the Advancement Network Prototypes - Second Interim Report

Evaluation of the Advanced Network Prototypes (ANP)

Activity and Learning Agreement Pilots - Programme Theory Evaluation (Working Paper 3)

Activity and Learning Agreement Pilots - Programme Theory Evaluation (Working Paper 5)

Train to Gain Learner Evaluation: Report from Wave 2 Research

Careers Advice Service Customer Progression Insight

Evaluating Race Equality Procurement Pilots

Train to Gain Learner Evaluation: Report from Wave 1 Research

Evaluation of the Activity and Learning Agreement Pilot

Building on Young Apprenticeships

The impact of STEM programmes on young people's employability skills

Effective Transitions Fund evaluation

Review and Evaluation of the National Peer Referencing Pilots

Top tips for local authorities implementing Raising the Participation Age (RPA)

Research into the Phase 4 Locally-Led Delivery Projects for Raising the Participation Age

Employer Training Pilots

Young Apprenticeships

Activity and Learning Agreement Pilots - Programme Theory Evaluation (Working Paper 1)

Appreciative Enquiry

Training a Mixed-Age Workforce

Platform for Progression: Employer Training Pilots

From early years to adult learning: IES research to support education and life chances

16 to 19 Additional Hours evaluation

Health-led Trials impact evaluation reports

Evaluation of Apprenticeship Grant for Employers of 16 to 24 year olds

What Employers Look for When Recruiting the Unemployed and Inactive

The contribution of Further Education and skills to social mobility

Future of work: Crowd-funded creative careers

Learning through Work: Literacy, language, numeracy and IT skills development in low-paid, low-skilled workplaces - Literature review

Learning through Work: Literacy, language, numeracy and IT skills development in low-paid, low-skilled workplaces - Audit of Learning

  • Advisor to Greater London Authority (GLA) advisory group: London Growth Plan: Good Work (2024 - 2024)
  • Senior academic member of the Make Work Pay working group, an on-going advisory role (2024 - Present)
  • Member of Nuffield Foundation advisory group on post-16 transitions for low attainers at GCSE level (2018 - Present)
  • Expert, DWP & ESRC roundtable on Work, Health and Disability (2017 - 2017)
  • Occasional Reviewer for the Journal of Social Policy (2016 - Present)
  • Occasional reviewer for the Journal of Social Policy & Administration (2015 - Present)
  • Associate of the Education and Training Foundation (2016 - Present)
  • Occasional Referee for Educational Research journal (2014 - Present)
  • Occasional Referee for The International Journal of Training Research (2014 - Present)
  • Associate Researcher for the Department for Education (2014 - Present)
  • Member, London Borough of Newham 16-19 education and employment advisory group (2009 - 2010)

Impact of summer programmes on the outcomes of disadvantaged or ‘at risk’ young people: A systematic review, PubMed Central, June 2024

Reforming Adult Social Care - Integrating Funding, Pay, Employment and Skills Policies in England, Newton B, Campaign for Learning, November 2021

Employers, apprenticeships and the levy - all change?, Newton B, People Management, [Online], October 2017

Overcoming poverty and increasing young people's participation, Newton B, Buzzeo J, Criminal Justice Matters, Taylor & Francis, Vol 99, No. 1, March 2015

Editorial: basic and employability skills, Miller L, Newton B, Biggart A, International Journal of Training and Development, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Volume 17, Issue 3, September 2013

Towards an inclusive apprenticeship programme, Newton B, Human Resources, February 2013

Re-engaging young people Newton B, 14-19 Learning and Skills Bulletin, Issue 11, Spring 2010

Re-engaging young people not in employment, education or training Newton B, Workplace Learning and Skills Bulletin, Issue 8, March 2010

Helping business students find a voice online: Large Group Participation in an e-learning Environment Newton B, Rospigliosi A, Educational Innovation in Economics and Business, Kluwer Academic Publishers, IX, January, 2005

Models of e-learning: a comparative case study Meredith S, Newton B, International Journal of Management Education, Vol. 1, No. 1, January, 2004

Models of e-learning: A literature review Meredith S, Newton B, International Journal of Management Education, Vol. 3, No. 3, January, 2003

Hot Technology, Cool Academics, Innovations in Teaching and Learning Series Newton B, Paine C, Flowers S, Learning and Teaching Subject Network, Business Management Accountancy, January, 2002

Developing a model of technology enhanced higher education: key issues and management challenges Flowers S, Newton R, Paine C, Bourner T, Katz T, Watson D (eds.), New Directions in Professional Higher Education, Open University Press and Society for Research into Higher Education, January, 2001

Implementation Strategies for educational intranet resources Sosabowski H, Herson K, Lloyd A, Flowers S, Paine C, Newton R, British Journal of Education and Training, Vol. 31, No. 1, pp. 47-56, January, 2000

Building a Business School Intranet: Lessons and Directions Flowers S, Newton R, Paine C, CTI-AFM Conference Proceedings, January, 1999

Creating a Faculty Intranet: a case study in change Flowers S, Newton R, Paine C, Education and Training, Vol. 40, No. 8, pp. 340-346, January, 1998

Work and Pensions Committee

Oral evidence to DWP as part of inquiry into Employment support for disabled people, 17 December 2025

Supporting Effective Youth Transitions: Policy Priorities and Practical Insights

Skills England Research Seminar, 27 November 2025

Supporting Effective Youth Transitions: Policy Priorities and Practical Insights

Skills England Research Seminar, 27 November 2025

Public Policy Exchange webinar: Tackling Youth Unemployment

Public Policy Exchange webinar, Public Policy Exchange, 26 June 2025

The New Rules of Recruitment: What people teams need to know

WorkL webinar, WorkL, 29 April 2025

Inquiry into Reforming Jobcentres

A series of inquiries responding to the Get Britain Working white paper, Work and Pensions Select Committee, 12 March 2025

Facilitators and barriers to entry and progression in work

The Future of Coffee: People, Progression and Retention, 25 June 2024

Women in Leadership

Newton B, Inclusive Futures: Celebrating International Women's Day with the School of Business and Law (University of Brighton), 08 March 2024

Reviewing progress in the plan for jobs

Newton B, NCfE webinar, March 2021

Making Devolution Work for Women

Newton B, Invite-only roundtable discussion: Making Devolution Work for Women, Fawcett Society, Birmingham, August 2019

Roundtable to discuss the Liquid Workforce

Newton B, Natwest, London, July 2019

T-Levels Preparing for Success

Newton B, Presentation, Westminster Briefing, London, June 2019

Adult skills and gaining accreditation in the workplace

Newton B, Presentation, Gatsby Foundation, London, June 2019

Westminster Education Forum Keynote Seminar: Implementing the T-Level programme - content, regulation and assessment 

Newton B, Westminster Education Forum Keynote Seminar: Implementing the T-Level programme - content, regulation and assessment, Westminster Education Forum, London, April 2019

Local policymakers and institutional level actors measures

Newton B, Policy learning forum: VET as a solution to leaving education early, Cedefop, Artion Events, Thessaloniki, Greece, May 2017

The Cedefop VET toolkit to tackle early leaving from education and training

Newton B, Nouwen W, Policy learning forum: VET as a solution to leaving education early, Cedefop, Artion Events, Thessaloniki, Greece, May 2017

Labour market for young people: today and tomorrow

Newton B, Future of work and employability at age 19, Department for Education, London, June 2016

Evidence Report

Newton B, Skills Commission Spotlight on Young People: Evidence Session 1, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Skills and Employment, London, March 2016

Apprenticeships Equality, Diversity and the Reform Programme

Newton B, Community Safety Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission, Hackney Council , London, February 2016

Evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers

Newton B, Evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers, Campaign for Learning, London, July 2015

Overcoming unemployment among young people: lessons from Youth Contract for 16-17 year olds

Newton B, Speckesser S, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion seminar, Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion (CASE), London School of Economics (LSE), October 2014

Addressing under-representation by gender and ethnicity in Apprenticeships

Newton B, Apprenticeships and Equality: A call to action, Department of Business Innovation and Skills, the National Apprenticeship Service and the TUC, London, April 2014

Under-representation in apprenticeships

Newton B, Network Rail seminar, Network Rail, Milton Keynes, March 2014

Increasing diversity in apprenticeships

Newton B, 5th International Apprenticeship Conference, National Apprenticeship Service, London, March 2014

RPA Phase 4 Evaluation

Newton B, South West Partnership for Participation and Progression, South West Partnership for Participation and Progression Group, Somerset, January 2014

Under-representation in Apprenticeships by gender and ethnicity - A research overview

Newton B, Under-representation in Apprenticeships by gender and ethnicity, Unionlearn with TUC, London, January 2014

Contributor

Newton B, Livechat: How can we secure sustainable jobs for the most disadvantaged?, The Guardian, October 2013

Research on the Raising the Participation Age (RPA) Phase 4 Local Delivery Projects

Newton B, RPA projects – Phase 4 Dissemination Event, Department for Education, Sheffield, September 2013

Evaluation of the Work Programme: Key findings

Newton, B, Welfare to Work Convention, Inclusion and Shaw Trust, Manchester, July 2013

Measuring impact, accountabilities, systems and processes: What can we learn from recent evaluations?

Newton B, Youth Employment Convention, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion, London, May 2013

Youth transitions: a route to the labour market through Apprenticeship

Newton B, Select Committee on the Student Journey, Kent County Council, Kent, January 2013

Expert contribution

Newton B, Expert seminar: Youth unemployment and young people NEET, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), London, July 2012

Youth transitions: learning and the labour market

Newton B, Select Committee on the Student Journey, Kent County Council, Kent, July 2011

Employers! Put your best where it will do the most

Miller L, Newton B, The point of partnership: understanding employer engagement in education, University of Warwick, October 2010

How do we engage reluctant post-16 learners? Some lessons for Raising of the Participation Age (RPA)

Newton B, Maguire S, British Education Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference, BERA, Warwick, September 2010

Youth apprenticeships

Newton B, Apprenticeship in Challenging Times, Institute of Education, London, July 2010

Re-engaging young people through the Activity Agreements: the perspectives of young people and their advisers

Newton B, Levesley T, NEETS: what the research says, A London Region Post-14 Network Conference, Universtiy of London Institue of Education, July 2009

Lessons from the Young Apprenticeships

Newton B, Researching Practice: Work Based Research in the Learning and Skills Sector, Further Education Research Association, London, May 2009

Findings from the Careers Advice Service Progression Insight Research

Newton B, Gloster R, Policy makers' seminar, April 2009

Putting research into practice in the Young Apprenticeships

Newton B, Learning and Skills Research Network Conference 2008, NIACE, London, December 2008

Vocational Guidance using new technologies - Lessons from Learndirect Guidance telephony-based service UK

Newton B, Gloster R, Bringing Public Employment Services directly to jobseekers, employers and local communities using accessible, sustainable systems and technologies, EU Open Access Project, FAS - Irish Employment Board, Dublin, November 2008

Designing, developing and evaluating Tasters

Newton B, Workshop series, Brighton, London, Coventry and York, Summer June 2007

Designing sector-based careers information

Newton B, Workshop series, London, Norfolk, Brighton, Spring 2007

The Wider Benefits of Learning in Later Life - Keynote address

Dench S, Newton B, Later Life Learning - Fit for Purpose?, Association for Education and Ageing, NIACE, IES, Celebrating Age 2006, Brighton, July 2006

Improving large group participation for business students in an eLearning environment using sustained role play in a virtual business

Newton B, Rospigliosi A, 9th Annual EDINEB International Conference, Breaking Boundaries for Global Learning, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Guadalajara, January 2002