Publications

This is the final report on the process evaluation of the Apprenticeship Trailblazers between January 2014 and March 2015. The research explored how Trailblazer networks are established and structured, the processes involved in developing standards and detailed assessments, employer responses to the national principles and to the funding reforms and overall satisfaction of employers with the development process.

This report investigates how taking part in further education – such as an apprenticeship, work-based learning, community learning and adult education – helps people get better jobs and wages. It also looks at the effects further education has on the prospects for the children of learners. It is a review of published research from government, academics and think tanks.

This report contains IES research evaluating the Pathways to Apprenticeship programme. The programme gives young people the opportunity to spend a year in College doing preliminary study and to undertake a work placement preparing them for the Welsh Government-supported Apprenticeship scheme.

This report examines the use of Assistant Practitioners in the NHS in England, explores the benefits of their use and the barriers to their further implementation, and also identifies ways in which Skills for Health can support their further introduction.

This report sets out the evidence from a review of evaluation and monitoring evidence on the performance of two of UKCES’ investment funds, specifically the Employer Investment Fund (EIF) and the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF). The report takes stock of the evidence on what the funds have achieved up to Summer 2014, and provides a summary of lessons to inform other investment programmes as well as policy development work.

This is the first year interim research report on the findings from a series of seven qualitative case studies. The report forms part of a multi-year evaluation assessing the impact of the two investment programmes: the Employer Investment Fund (EIF) and the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF).

The Apprenticeship Trailblazers aim to achieve greater employer ownership of Apprenticeship training. IES was commissioned to lead an evaluation of the early Trailblazers. This infographic highlights the key points of a report published this week by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, revealing the interim findings.

A report on the apprenticeship trailblazers one year on from the launch of the first standards in March 2014.

This Guidebook was prepared within the context of a wider project commissioned by the European Commission, entitled 'Providing targeted advice on European Social Fund (ESF) support to apprenticeship and traineeship schemes', implemented between December 2012 and December 2014. The Guidebook’s primary aim is to provide an overview of the main apprenticeship and traineeship programmes (‘what exists’) which have been in operation in each Member State in the period 2007-2012, with a particular focus on their employment outcomes and overall effectiveness.

The evaluation of the Apprenticeship Grant for Employers was carried out in partnership by BMG Research and IES, with IES leading on provider research and the return-on-investment assessment and BMG leading consultations with national stakeholders and employers. This report describes the findings of research, which involved talking with participating employers, government agencies and training organisations involved in the administration of the grant. All aspects of the policy are covered, from the way it was run, whether the grant amount was set at the right level, to satisfaction with the learning and training.