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 office19 March 2026
Labour market stats response, March 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
17 March 2026
There’s one million NEETs in the UK. Are we doing enough?
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute, reflects on the Government’s expansion of the Youth Guarantee and if support is going far enough to help young people into work or training.
17 March 2026
Beyond the headline: What emerging qualitative insights tell us about supporting young people into work
Iona McArdle, L&W’s JobsPlus Programme Manager, shares some emerging insights from the JobsPlus evaluation on young people’s experiences of being not in education, employment or training (NEET).
16 March 2026
Responding to the Government’s announcement on expanding opportunities for young people
L&W Chief Executive Stephen Evans responds to the Government’s announcement on expanding opportunities for young people on 16 March 2026.
13 March 2026
UK’s training and skills ‘tick-box culture’ puts at risk job mobility and future growth, new report warns
New analysis has identified an overreliance on mandatory and compliance training in UK workplaces compared to other countries – at the expense of more in-depth upskilling required for the jobs of the future.
3 March 2026
Responding to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s spring statement 2026
L&W’s Director of Policy and Research Dr Emily Andrews responds to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s spring statement on 3 March 2026.
2 March 2026
When it comes to lifelong learning, are we any closer to the College of the Future?
Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute, reflects on the role of colleges in providing adults with opportunity and agency throughout their lives.
2 March 2026
Why adult education is an investment, not a cost
David Hughes, CEO at the Association of Colleges, sets out why a well-funded, high-quality adult education system is beneficial to society and the economy.
26 February 2026
New innovation trial offers young Londoners with health conditions tailored support to get ‘work ready’
Shaw Trust is funding and designing a new service to help young people with a health condition or disability get ‘work ready.’ The innovation trial will be evaluated by L&W and launched in partnership with the West London Alliance.
