Publications

This report provides a review of the literature on initiatives to stimulate demand for post-16 learning. Examples of policy and practice initiatives from the UK, America, Europe and Australia are categorised into three broad types: stimulating mass demand, through widespread publicity, provision of advice and guidance or funding and making the provision of learning more flexible; stimulating demand for learning among targeted groups of individuals and communities; and stimulating demand among employees and for work-related learning.

Executive coaching, largely an import from the US, swept the boardrooms of Europe in the late 90s and early 2000s. It was arguably the 'hot topic' for meeting senior management development needs in many employing organisations. It is a form of tailored work-related development for senior managers which spans business, functional and personal skills. There is more than one significant relationship to consider, ie coach and executive, coach and commissioner, and commissioner and executive. Issues of trust and control emerge in seeking to understand the successful interplay between these various relationships.

The Department for Trade and Industry commissioned IES to assess the education and skills needs of the retailing sector, arising from the development of electronic commerce (e-commerce) over the internet, digital television and other media platforms. The research mapped out the principal industries and supply chain involved, identified the skills required in the retail sector and in the supply chain to participate effectively in e-commerce, and assessed the extent to which skill needs were being met. This publication is no longer available.

This review of adult learning policy and provision in England as at the end of the 20th century, summarises the state of adult learning in terms of the institutional arrangements and policies, the extent of participation and factors influencing funding, the main issues facing policy-makers and the policies they have adopted and that are planned. It was prepared as a Background Report for the OECD's review of adult learning in a range of industrialised countries.

The Department for Education and Employment commissioned this study from IES to explore the impact of learning on older people, in terms of social and community activity and involvement. The study also provides information on patterns and characteristics of learning among a sample of people aged between 50 and 71, their motivations for learning, reasons for not learning, barriers to learning and other aspects of their lives.

This report pins down the concept of employability into a workable definition. Based on a review of approaches adopted in a series of case study organisations, it develops an emerging framework of appropriate employer responses, and provides a checklist to help employers develop comprehensive policy and practice.

This study explores employers' needs for and satisfaction with the level of Key Skills held by their employees. It illustrates the importance of all these skills to employers, and generally high levels of satisfaction with their employees' skills (though not necessarily those of the labour force in general). It explores in detail employers' views of the Key Skill Units, and reveals specific concerns about their coverage.

This study focuses on the benefits of learning both to the individual and to the organisation. If the returns to learning were clearly understood by employers and others, would more learning accrue? This publication is no longer available.

This publication is no longer available.

This report presents the key findings from three annual studies based on comparisons of employers involved and not involved in Investors in People. It looks at why employers get involved with Investors, the issues surrounding meeting the standard, the effect on employer training and management practice and the impact on business performance.