Responding to the Government’s Autumn Budget announced on 30 October 2024, Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute, said:
“The Budget lays bare the challenges ahead and shows the importance of focusing on getting more people into work and boosting skills to improve growth. The OBR has revised down its employment rate forecast with economic inactivity due to ill health persisting. The upcoming Get Britain Working White Paper needs to set out a credible path to getting 2.4 million more people into work to hit the Government’s ambition to reach an 80% employment rate. To improve the dismal growth forecasts, we also need to reverse the £1 billion cut in skills budgets since 2010 and employers’ 26% cut in training since 2005.”
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.
