Publications

This study was commissioned by the Low Pay Commission in order to support the preparation of its 2013 report and aimed to estimate the impact of the introduction of the National Minimum Wage Apprentice Rate (NMWAR) on wage levels of apprentices' pay using individual level data. Our objective was to understand whether the NMWAR had an impact on pay levels and what conclusions could be drawn from this to guide the further development of the rate.

This paper considers existing definitions of values before exploring the current thinking on establishing and embedding organisational values and the part that HR has to play in these processes.

This research consulted Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other stakeholder organisations about the feasibility of running a national student satisfaction survey for postgraduate taught (PGT) students. Such a survey does exist at undergraduate level (the National Student Survey) and helps to inform student choice, as well as encouraging HEIs to improve their offer.

Produced as part of the ‘What do researchers do?’ series by Vitae. Vitae has used data from successive HESA ‘Longitudinal Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education' surveys, each based on more than 2,000 respondents, to look at the employment and circumstances of doctoral graduates during the period of the UK recession.

This report presents the main findings of the Institute of Employment Studies’ evaluation of the Health and Safety Executive's 'Do Your Bit' training for new health and safety representatives and for more established representatives and their managers, aimed at increasing the effectiveness of worker involvement in health and safety in organisations.

Occupational regulation is a policy mechanism which can raise skill levels by introducing minimum prescribed skills standards into an occupation or an aspect of it. Whilst there is evidence of the positive effects of introducing occupational regulation there is little information on schema design or the motivations for their introduction or amendment. This report addresses some of these gaps.

In early 2011 Skills for Health published The role of Assistant Practitioners in the NHS: factors affecting evolution and development of the role. This Working Paper is a follow-up to that earlier publication. The paper reviews the situation, examines the types of education and training being offered to individuals prior to taking on these roles and the progression pathways available and considers the extent to which the issues identified in the earlier report have been addressed and/or resolved.

This research sought to develop a greater understanding of the design, implementation and impact on skills of employer networks in the UK to inform the delivery of investment projects. This study explores networks with a skills and/or innovation focus in the UK and draws insight from eight case studies of diverse network types: illustrating how they function and operate; the drivers, and nature, of employer engagement; and the type of impact they have on employers.

This audit provides a detailed evidence base and key intelligence on Wales’ existing and future skills needs in 2012. It was designed to help supply the analysis and evidence required to develop Wales’ skills base so that it would meet the immediate and longer-term needs of the economy.

OFQUAL launched its Reliability Programme in May 2008 to investigate the reliability and validity of results in national tests, public examinations and other qualifications in England. It was set up to help develop OFQUAL's regulatory policy on reliability and indicate where to improve the assessment systems in use. This project investigated the reliability of three high-stakes City & Guilds qualifications that allowed qualified electricians to certify their professional knowledge.