Recording the lived experience of people working with obesity
A survey and associated report to determine the level of stigma and discrimination that employees living with obesity experience in the UK.
Evidence review: Supporting unemployed and disadvantaged young people into and towards meaningful work
IES will deliver an evidence-based assessment of ‘what works’ in tackling youth worklessness amongst those young people most distant from the labour market who face multiple disadvantages. This will include an assessment of the strength of evidence to supply a practical resource and a starting point for identifying future priorities for YFF, and evidence gaps. The method comprises a ‘review of reviews’, combined with an REA and call for evidence/grey literature.
Development of new employment offer options
IES is providing consultancy and research support to the Northern Ireland government, to develop a new employment support offer for disabled people and those with health conditions. Coverage topics include: employment policy research, equality and diversity, disability and employment, health, work and wellbeing, mental health and stress, wellbeing in employment, unemployment and welfare, inactivity and welfare reform and unemployment and the active labour market. IES methodology includes: labour market analysis and forecasting, provision of expertise and advice, developing tools resources and guidance, evidence and literature reviews and international research and analysis.
Evaluation of Disability Programmes, Northern Ireland
IES with Locus will conduct an evaluation of the Department for Communities’ disability employment programmes. The study consists of: a desk review of business cases and previous evaluations, developing theories of change for six programmes, interim report (IES); depth programme evaluations of six disability programmes and rapid review of 17 ESF funded projects (Locus); impact and value for money analysis (IES associate) andn synthesis reporting.
Evaluating Mind’s Blue Light initiative for new emergency services recruits
IES evaluated Mind’s latest Blue Light initiative which involved mental health and wellbeing training for new recruits in the emergency services. The work involved training observations, qualitative interviewing, focus groups and a census-type survey. We explored issues specific to new recruits in order that Mind could tailor its training to this cohort.
Assessment of public interventions to combat labour market segmentation in four EU Member States
This project, on behalf of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, is focused on identifying labour market interventions aimed at combating labour market segmentation (including those addressing differences in employment protection) in a selection of European countries (France, Germany, Spain and the UK). IES has been contracted by the Public Policy Management Institute to provide expert input on the situation in the UK. Key findings will feed into a comparative overview report providing evidence and policy pointers on labour market interventions that are effective in overcoming labour market segmentation.
To what extent can health, wellbeing and safety strategies improve the productivity and competitiveness of UK manufacturers?
There is considerable interest among employers in the steps they can take to improve workforce health and wellbeing. In part, they are interested in being good employers and enhancing employee engagement, but they also want to reduce sickness absence, promote physical and psychological health and to improve productivity. This study will look at wellbeing practices and their impact on productivity in the UK manufacturing sector. The work involves a literature review, an online survey of over 4,000 manufacturing employers in the UK and a number of case studies to explore good practice. The study will seek to isolate which health and wellbeing practices are most strongly correlated with high levels of productivity and whether lessons can be drawn about which interventions offer best value for money.
Discrimination and access to employment for female workers with disabilities
IES was contracted by the Istituto per la ricerca sociale (Italy) to conduct the UK case study on the multiple discrimination faced by women with disabilities in the labour market. This research, for the European Parliament, included identifying all relevant national data and indicators, relevant legal framework and policies to address such discrimination, and concrete examples of gender mainstreaming in the UK’s disability policy.
Understanding perceptions of Arts Council England as an employer
IES is working with Arts Council England to help improve understanding of the perceptions of the organisation held by actual and potential job applicants from a range of backgrounds. The research project will involve online consultations, focus groups and interviews to increase insight into perceptions of the attraction factors, triggers to apply and benefits of working for the organisation, along with any perceived barriers to applying. The project will have an emphasis on diversity and inclusion and will inform future Arts Council England action and strategy.
Defining vulnerable/disadvantaged groups
This project for Equality and Human Rights Commission sets out to explore what is meant by a ‘vulnerable group’ and how it can be defined in relation to equality and human rights monitoring so that it is a meaningful concept.