Kate Alexander

Research Fellow

BA, MSc

Kate is a Research Fellow at IES and joined the organisation in 2019. Her main research interests include precarious employment, the gig economy, and ensuring access to good quality work.

Kate completed an Undergraduate degree in sociology and a Masters degree in social research methods at the University of Sussex, where she carried out mixed methods research exploring precarious work in graduate transitions into the labour market.

Kate is a mixed-methods researcher with a specialism is qualitative methods, and a project manager. She has conducted research exploring education, training and employment for government, sector bodies and charitable organisations. This has included conducting and analysing in-depth interviews and focus groups with workers, employers and stakeholders on a range of projects; leading Implementation and Process Evaluations, quantitative analysis of MI data contributing to evaluations of education and training programmes; and survey design and analysis.

Education

2019 University of Sussex MSc Social Research Methods
2018 University of Sussex BA, Sociology

Career

2022 Research Fellow Institute for Employment Studies
2020-2022 Research Officer Institute for Employment Studies
2019-2020 Research Intern Institute for Employment Studies

 

CV Details

AI tools and their use in Restart, Joseph Cook, Kate Alexander, Dan Mason, Rosie Gloster, Institute for Employment Studies , Apr 2026

A brief review of policy and practice for careers education, Emma Pollard, Kate Alexander, Claudia Plowden Roberts, Arundhati Dave, Louisa Illidge, Daniel Mason, Institute for Employment Studies , Jan 2026

Language programmes evaluation: interim report, Beatrice Rosolin, Ceri Williams, Clare Huxley, Daniel Mason, Emma Pollard, Jade Talbot, Kate Alexander, Louisa Illidge, Department for Education (DfE) / Government Social Research, Sep 2025

Exploring the potential of ‘unbound’ working, Astrid Allen, Kate Alexander, Arundhati Dave, Institute for Employment Studies , Jun 2025

Research into careers in construction 2023 to 2024, Kate Alexander, Emma Pollard, CITB, May 2025

16 to 19 Additional Hours evaluation, Kate Alexander, Billy Campbell, Becci Newton, Beatrice Rosolin, Seemanti Ghosh, Department for Education (DfE), Oct 2024

Research into careers in construction, Kate Alexander, Claudia Plowden Roberts, Wendy Hirsh, Lorraine Lanceley, Beth Mason, Emma Pollard, CITB, May 2024

Flexible Phonics: updated March 2024, Anneka Dawson, Clare Huxley, Kate Alexander, Susie Bamford, Institute for Employment Studies, Mar 2024

Primary care worker wellbeing 2020-2023, Kate Alexander, Megan Edwards, Beth Mason, Alison Carter, Institute for Employment Studies, Dec 2023

Flexible Phonics, Anneka Dawson, Clare Huxley, Susie Bamford, Kate Alexander, Charlotte Edney, Education Endowment Foundation, Oct 2023

SomersetWorks Partnership College Pilot Evaluation, Cristiana Orlando, Kate Alexander, Abbie Winton, Daniel Muir, Becci Newton, Institute for Employment Studies, Jan 2023

Bridging the gap: Making young people a vital part of every workforce, Kate Alexander, Cristiana Orlando, Abbie Winton, The Health Foundation, Jan 2023

Building opportunity, Kate Alexander, Tony Wilson, Institute for Employment Studies, Dec 2022

The Central London Works evaluation, Kate Alexander, Jonathan Buzzeo, Ceri Williams, Tony Wilson, Joseph Cook, Central London Works, Jun 2022

Tips by Text, Anneka Dawson, Ceri Williams, Kate Alexander, Georgie Akehurst, Private: Chiara Manzoni, Education Endowment Fund/NIESR, Apr 2022

Evaluation of the Construction Skills Fund 2, Kate Alexander, Rosie Gloster, Charlotte Edney, Jonathan Buzzeo, Rakhee Patel, CITB, Mar 2022

Supporting good mental health amongst London’s FE learners, Becci Newton, Rakhee Patel, Georgie Akehurst, Kate Alexander, Morwenna Byford, Private: Catherine Rickard, De-Jon Ebanks-Silvera, Jonathan Buzzeo, Joseph Cook, Institute for Employment Studies, Dec 2021

A better future: Transforming jobs and skills for young people post-pandemic, Joy Williams, Kate Alexander, Tony Wilson, Becci Newton, Youth Futures Foundation /The Blagrave Trust, Oct 2021

Coaching in virtual spaces: Video, audio and text-based, Alison Carter, Kate Alexander, Morwenna Byford, Institute for Employment Studies, Aug 2021

Student mental health and wellbeing, Emma Pollard, Kate Alexander, Institute for Employment Studies, Jun 2021

Infographic: Coaching in virtual spaces, Alison Carter, Kate Alexander, Morwenna Byford, Institute for Employment Studies, Oct 2020

Infographic: Coaching in virtual spaces, Alison Carter, Kate Alexander, Institute for Employment Studies, Oct 2020

The impact of COVID-19 on low-income households, Jonathan Buzzeo, Kate Alexander, Becci Newton, Standard Life Foundation, Oct 2020

Moving out to move on, Dafni Papoutsaki, Jonathan Buzzeo, Helen Gray, Matthew Williams, Georgie Akehurst, Kate Alexander, Becci Newton, Emma Pollard, Social Mobility Commission, Jul 2020

Support for Industry Placements, Helena Takala, Joy Williams, Kate Alexander, Becci Newton, Institute for Employment Studies, Jul 2020

Process Evaluation of Support for T Level Industry Placements, Joy Williams, Becci Newton, Helena Takala, Rosie Gloster, Kate Alexander, Institute for Employment Studies, Jul 2020

Evaluation of the Careers Leader Training, Joy Williams, Georgie Akehurst, Kate Alexander, Emma Pollard, Ceri Williams, The Careers & Enterprise Company, May 2020

Social class - a ramp and a barrier to career aspirations, decision making & pathways

NICEC, 20 January 2026

A day in the life of a researcher

Alexander K, Working in the think tank sector - Resolution Foundation, 28 February 2024