New research project from ERSA, AELP and Shaw Trust on Employment and Skills

At a time when the skills and job markets are going through rapid change, providers and policy makers need the best available evidence to understand how to improve opportunities for jobseekers and learners alike. While there are clear overlaps between the learning and employability sectors, this new research will bring together the latest data and expert insights to identify how provision, policy and outcomes can be improved.

The research will assess:

• What are the trends in skills and employability provision delivery over recent years?
• How might these trends have impacted on each other?
• What policies and actions would improve the overall effectiveness of delivery both now and in the future?

This timely research will include the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and identify practical solutions for the learning and skills sectors in early 2022.

Chris Luck CB MBE MA MPhil, Chief Executive of Shaw Trust:

“Shaw Trust is delighted to be supporting this new research with leading partners from both learning, skills and employability. Our aim is to reduce the cliff edges between different forms of provision to ensure children, young people and adults have the skills and employment support they need to get in and stay in good work.”

Elizabeth Taylor, Chief Executive of ERSA:

“As we look to fill vacancies in the UK, joining up employment and skills provisions has never been more important. The lessons learnt from the joint work between AELP and ERSA will provide a good base to encourage people to acquire new skills and apply for jobs. We also hope that this will inform commissioners to consider a joined-up approach to programmes.”

Jane Hickie, Chief Executive of AELP:

“AELP are delighted to be teaming up with the Shaw Trust and ERSA on this exciting new research project. Evidently, there needs to be better cohesion between Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Education programmes. This work will demonstrate how trends in skills and employability are developing – and exactly how we can improve opportunities for employers, jobseekers, and learners. We look forward to seeing the project’s findings in the coming months.”

If you would like to know more about this project, get in touch with Dr Andrew Morton via policy@ersa.org.uk.