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 office

27 August 2026

Responding to the latest NEET data, August 2026

Learning and Work Institute Deputy Director Elizabeth Gerard responds to the NEET data released on 27 August 2026.

Read more

18 August 2026

Labour market stats response, August 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

Read more

12 August 2026

Small employers, big opportunities: apprenticeships for young people

Olly Newton, Executive Director at Edge Foundation, reflects on key messages from the Edge Foundation-sponsored workshop at Learning and Work Institute’s Employment and Skills Convention, exploring how small employers and local partners can support more young people into apprenticeships.

Read more

21 July 2026

Labour market stats response, July 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

Read more

10 July 2026

Building trust before jobs: supporting NEET young people in East Finchley 

Andrew Potter, Project Manager of the JobsPlus pilot in East Finchley, outlines a different approach to supporting young people into employment and training.

Read more

18 June 2026

Labour market stats response, June 2026

L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.

Read more

9 June 2026

Innovative, “hyper-local” approach to employment support completes two years

An innovative employment support pilot spanning Medway to Merseyside has shown promise reaching social housing residents who are out of work but do not typically access mainstream support.

Read more

29 May 2026

I found my voice through lifelong learning – others deserve the same chance

Ed Balls, Former Cabinet Minister and Shadow Chancellor, sets out why lifelong learning is vital for the country.

Read more

28 May 2026

Responding to the interim report of the Milburn review

L&W chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the interim report from the Milburn review on Thursday 28 May 2026.

Read more