Learning and Work Institute has been working in partnership with Edinburgh College to develop a pilot to support low-income workers in Scotland to progress into better jobs.
Funded by The Robertson Trust, the initial phase explored existing approaches to supporting low-income workers to progress into better jobs that could be adapted to the Edinburgh context. This evidence of what works was then used to inform a co-design phase where low-income workers, employers, and local training providers came together to design a programme based on the WorkAdvance model. The Step Up in Care programme would support people in Edinburgh to move into and progress within roles in the social care sector.
Looking forward, we hope to pilot Step Up in Care in Edinburgh. The pilot would be accompanied by a robust evaluation to contribute to the evidence base on what works to support working people to move into fair, sustainable jobs. If successful, the programme could represent an opportunity to improve outcomes for workers, strengthen the social care sector, and build a stronger evidence base for fair work in Edinburgh and beyond.
Our research
Discover our interim and final reports from the project
Interim report: Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
This report shares findings from the first phase of the programme to build the evidence base on what works to best support low-income workers to progress into better jobs, and to adapt and test proven in-work progression models in Scotland.
Final report: Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
This report shares findings from the second phase of the programme and sets out a proposed model for a new, evidence-led, in-work progression programme in Edinburgh.
Funded by
9 June 2026
Final report: Evaluation of the JobsPlus Pilot
This evaluation of JobsPlus builds on the interim findings published in September 2025 to provide evidence on whether the model can be adapted to the UK context and effectively implemented to improve employment outcomes.
19 May 2026
Labour market dashboard
Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.
1 April 2026
Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
With funding from the Robertson Trust, Learning and Work Institute has been working in partnership with Edinburgh College to develop a pilot to support low-income workers in Scotland to progress into better jobs.
1 April 2026
Final report: Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
This report shares findings from the second phase of our programme of work funded by the Robertson Trust and delivered in partnership with Edinburgh College. It sets out a proposed model for a new, evidence-led, in-work progression programme in Edinburgh.
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.
13 March 2026
Training and skills needs: Trends and challenges in UK growth sectors
This report, the second in a series of publications funded by Nuffield Foundation, explores the level of estimated skills needs in UK businesses alongside the level and type of training that employers provide.
24 December 2025
Falling short: Understanding further falls in employer training
This briefing looks at how employer investment in training continues to fall – now down 36% per employee since 2005 – and argues that we must turn this around to improve economic growth.
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.
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.
