Publications

We author and publish a range of resources to keep you up to date with the latest developments in employment, education and skills, labour market and human resource policy and practice. All our pdf publications are free to access.

Publication

Not the retiring types

As people live for longer and the State Pension age rises, understanding how working lives can be extended in ways which are both sustainable and rewarding has become an increasingly important issue for individuals, employers and policy makers. This study examined how people in their 60s successfully reshaped work to extend their career, on terms which suited their changing needs and priorities.

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People and the Bottom Line

Does the way people are treated at work make a difference to the performance of the organisations that employ them? Are there returns to investment in human capital in a similar way to investments in physical capital? These seem straightforward enough questions but they have generated huge amounts of debate. Against this background, this study takes into account concerns from both academics and practitioners, and provides a convincing argument that the investments firms make in their workforce make a difference.

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Activity and Learning Agreement Pilots – Programme Theory Evaluation (Working Paper 2)

The Activity and Learning Agreements Pilots were launched in April 2006 in 12 areas of England. Activity Agreements (AA) are for 16 and 17 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET), who are offered a weekly allowance in return for committing to a plan and completing agreed activities to re-integrate them back in to learning. Learning Agreements (LA) are for 16-17 year olds in jobs with no accredited training (JWT), to support and encourage them back into learning. This study investigated the theory that ‘In LA pilot areas where there is no financial incentive, it is the support, advice and guidance provided by the Connexions worker that will be enough to ‘kick-start’ the young person’s interest in learning and induce them to sign up to a learning agreement.’

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Impact of Care to Learn – Tracking the destinations of young parents funded in 2003/04

Care to Learn is a UK government initiative that provides financial support for teenage parents who want to continue in, or return to learning. It helps with the cost of their childcare and travel. As part of the national evaluation of Care to Learn, a self-completion postal survey was conducted of young parents who received Care to Learn funding during the 2003/04 academic year. The survey was conducted during the winter of 2006.

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Evaluation of Year 2 of the Skills Coaching Trials and Skills Passports

In partnership with the Centre for Social and Economic Inclusion, IES evaluated Skills Coaching, a careers and coaching service for out of work adults. The evaluation involved: case-studies in nine of the areas running Skills Coaching trials; a review of literature on employability and employment and skills policy; an analysis of the pilots’ management information; and an assessment of the cost of delivering the service.