Responding to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s spring statement, Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute (L&W), said:
“It’s good to see the extra £1 billion investment in employment support confirmed, given two in ten out-of-work disabled people want to work but only one in ten get help to find work each year. But it will take time to see the benefit of this investment and the outlook is challenging, with growth remaining low, the world uncertain, skills funding cut by £1 billion in England since 2010, and real wages still £246 per week below their pre-financial crisis trends. Going for growth can only succeed if we have sufficient skilled workers; we need the Government and employers to step up to do this.”
Contact our press office20 January 2026
Labour market stats response, January 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
16 January 2026
From strength to strength: JobsPlus in Toxteth
Reflections from one of our delivery providers for JobsPlus, a new community-led approach to help people find work and boost their earnings. JobsPlus is being piloted on 10 sites across England, following the model’s success in the United States.
2 January 2026
Getting neighbourhoods working: over 1,000 people take part in community-led employment support
Over 1,000 people have engaged with JobsPlus, a new community-led approach to finding work and increasing earnings which is being piloted across England from Medway to Merseyside following the model’s success in the United States.
22 December 2025
From confusion to clarity: rethinking England’s 670 occupational standards
L&W’s Stephen Evans and Pearson’s Donna Ford-Clarke reflect on findings from our recent research on England’s occupational standards – of which there are now more than double the number in countries like Germany and Switzerland.
16 December 2025
Responding to Alan Milburn’s investigation into young people not earning or learning
Sam Avanzo Windett, Deputy Director at Learning and Work Institute, responds to the launch of Alan Milburn’s investigation into young people not earning or learning.
16 December 2025
Labour market stats response, December 2025
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
8 December 2025
Responding to the Government’s announcement on the Youth Guarantee
Dr Emily Andrews, Learning and Work Institute’s Director of Policy and Research, responds to the Government’s announcement on expanding opportunities through the Youth Guarantee on Sunday 7 December.
8 December 2025
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal meets London learners at an event for adults’ access to essential skills learning
On Wednesday 3 December, Learning and Work Institute was delighted to welcome their patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to an event in London about essential skills for learning and life, like literacy, numeracy and digital.
27 November 2025
Responding to the full year apprenticeships data release
Learning and Work Institute’s Deputy Head of Research Dr Corin Egglestone responds to the full year apprenticeships data released on 27 November 2025.
