Tony Wilson

MA (Hons), FRSA, FIEP

Institute Director

tony.wilson@employment-studies.co.uk

Tony has worked in employment policy and research for the last twenty years, in a range of roles spanning central government and independent institutes.  As Institute Director at IES, Tony leads a team of fifty people delivering research, analysis and consultancy support on employment, skills, education and HR.  He has particular expertise in labour market policy and analysis;  the design, delivery and evaluation of employment and skills programmes and supporting organisations to understand and apply evidence of ‘what works’ in employment policy and service delivery.

Prior to joining IES in October 2018, Tony was Director of Research and Development at the Learning and Work Institute, and before that a Director at the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion.  Between 2001 and 2011 he worked on employment, skills and welfare in the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre Plus and HM Treasury. While in government this included leading on the design and implementation of a number of employment programmes during the financial crisis including the Future Jobs Fund; supporting David Freud on his independent review of 'welfare to work' in 2007, and latterly working as Head of employment policy at HM Treasury in the early years of the Coalition government where he advised Treasury Ministers on the labour market and public policy.

Outside of work, Tony enjoys walking and kayaking with the family, and most years trying to make wine from grapes in the garden (the kids help with that too).

Follow @tonywilsonIES

Education

2000

Selwyn College, University of Cambridge

MA, History

Career

2018-	Director, Institute for Employment Studies
2016-2018	Director of Policy and Research, Learning and Work Institute
2011-2016	Director of Policy and Research, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion
2010-2011	Head of Employment Policy, HM Treasury
2009-2010	Head of Employment Projects, Department for Work and Pensions
2008-2009	Senior Adviser to Director of Welfare to Work, Department for Work and Pensions
2005-2008	Team Leader, Department for Work and Pensions
2001-2005	Department for Work and Pensions Fast Stream