Publications

This report presents findings from research carried out as part of the evaluation of the London City Strategy Pathfinder English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Pilot. The research was commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The two-year ESOL Pilot was designed to demonstrate how work-focused ESOL training provision can support access to sustainable employment for people who speak English as an additional language. The main target group was parents with ESOL needs who were in receipt of benefits or tax credits.

This report reviews the literature on the factors that may influence the behaviour of employees who are involved in a conflict or dispute at work. The aim was to inform the debate about how to encourage parties to resolve such problems earlier and more informally rather than through employment tribunals.

This evaluation of the Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs) centred around two waves of qualitative interviews with: national Jobcentre Plus, DWP and Learning and Skills Council (LSC) staff; Jobcentre Plus district and local staff in eight areas in England, Scotland and Wales; local and national employers; customers; and training providers and other stakeholders at a district level. The main aims of the research were to explore the successful elements of LEPs, to ascertain why employers had engaged with LEPs and what they had gained from doing so, to look at the impact of LEPs on partnership working and to determine which customers had benefited from taking part. The research also examined the introduction, implementation and organisation of LEPs at national, district and local levels.

In this edition of the ERM quarterly, we describe some positive recent developments in the IT sector where looming skill shortages were more of a concern than unemployment. We also showcase a potentially interesting industrial restructuring project at the old Fiat plant at Termini Imerese in Sicily.

This note summarises the interim findings of literature and case-based research into the implementation of performance management systems conducted by IES in 2011.

This paper reviews the literature on performance management and appraisals to see where there may be useful learning for organisations. It also provides important criteria on which to judge the effectiveness of the implementation of a performance management system.

In Autumn 2010, v commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies to explore the unique contribution of volunteering to the development of employability skills and attributes, networks and contacts, qualifications and accreditation, and the relief of the negative consequences of unemployment or inactivity.

This literature review aims both to provide an up-to-date synthesis of, and contribute to, the relevant debates by analysing the varied effects of five types of interfirm relationships: public-private partnerships (PPPs), joint ventures, strategic alliances, clusters and virtual company networks (VCNs). The review uses existing literature to illustrate likely effects of each type of relationship on employment practices and working conditions.

This study was commissioned by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) in February 2010. Its purpose was the in-depth study of the impact of five types of interfirm relationships – joint ventures, clusters, public-private partnerships (PPPs), strategic alliances/networks and virtual company networks (VCNs) – on employment and working conditions.