Share
Preview
A message from our chief executive
The new year has started with new lockdowns, but with the vaccine rollout providing some light at the end of the tunnel. This is likely to mean a tough few months, but with a chance to focus on recovery and renewal as the year progresses.

Recovery and renewal are the focus on the recent final report of our Youth Commission. It argues for a higher ambition for employment and education for young people, and urgent action to tackle the youth employment crisis. We call for an extra £4.2 billion per year so that 75% of young people in England gain a Level 3 by age 25, and one in three can take part in an apprenticeship.

Being in the grip of a pandemic with only a one year funding settlement is not necessarily the optimal time to publish a White Paper on FE reform in England. I’d previously argued that it would be better for government to unveil a Green Paper, and then work with partners to develop a long-term strategy with long-term funding.

However, the newly released White Paper contains a lot to digest. There’s lots of positive aspirations and intent, but this won’t make a difference without significant and sustained increases in funding. There are also lots of areas that are light or missing: we need to think more creatively about join up with DWP, how we engage adults to want to learn and support them with maintenance costs, reform of the apprenticeship levy, creating flexible learning options, entitlements to learn at level 2, strategy to improve participation in basic skills learning, recognition of the wider benefits of learning etc. This White Paper can be a start, but it needs a much wider cross-government effort, sustained investment, and partnership working approach if it’s to avoid becoming another footnote in the history of skills policy. Explore our full response.

Similarly, it’s great the Government has Kickstart, Restart, JETS etc to help people back to work. But I’m pleased the Lords Economic Affairs Committee echoed our calls for this to be better joined up so everyone gets the right support at the right time. This is both a policy and delivery challenge.

Taking the long view is something we always try to focus on. This year marks our centenary, as it is the 100th anniversary of the creation of one of our predecessor organisations; the British Institute of Adult Education. Keep an eye out for lots of activities to mark our centenary during 2021.

Last but by no means last, in these difficult times, it’s all the more important to celebrate the transformative difference lifelong learning can make to individuals and communities. There is still time to nominate an outstanding learner, tutors, or employer as part of our 2021 Festival of Learning awards.

Stephen Evans
Chief Executive
 
Updates from L&W
Final report of our Youth Commission
Across five research reports, our Youth Commission has explored the impact of inequalities on young people’s life chances. We have demonstrated that we lag other countries on many measures, and progress in improving outcomes for young people has stalled. The final report sets out our blueprint for change after the pandemic. It calls for urgent action to tackle the youth employment crisis and a higher ambition for education and employment, benchmarked against the world’s best to build back better. The report was covered by the Telegraph and The Big Issue.
Festival of Learning nominations for 2021 awards
With just over two weeks left to nominate, we are looking for inspirational individuals, tutors, providers and employers that have used learning to change their lives and the lives of those around them. Deadline for nominations is Tuesday 9 February and all the information and guidance you will need is on our website.
Apprenticeships at Level 4 and above
The government is seeking to boost the number of high quality apprenticeships, and to widen access so that apprenticeships drive social mobility. This new report explored the extent to which apprenticeships at Level 4 and above are supporting social mobility for people from diverse backgrounds. We also examined employer motivations and barriers to offering higher-level apprenticeships, the experience of people taking higher level apprenticeships.
The NHS role in addressing the work and employment impacts of Covid-19
NHS England and NHS Improvement commissioned us to identify opportunities which the NHS could quickly develop to address the employment impacts of COVID-19 and support social mobility. This work involved a rapid review of evidence and a roundtable discussion focused on how the NHS can strategically use its economic status and assets to stimulate recovery at a local, system, regional and national level. Explore the stimulus paper and think piece.
 
Events
A higher skills ambition for Northern Ireland: Skills for growth and social inclusion
Wednesday 27 January | 2.00pm

Skills are central to economic growth and social inclusion. Yet Northern Ireland has a higher proportion of people with no or low qualifications and a lower proportion with high level qualifications, such as degrees or postgraduate education. This event will highlight the findings of new research commissioned by OCN Northern Ireland, which explores the importance of skills and presents new analysis of how Northern Ireland’s skills base. Join us at this event to discuss further.

Getting back to work: how we can make the Restart scheme work
Thursday 28 January | 12.00pm

Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, the government has laid out its Plan for Jobs, including the Restart scheme, which aims to help the long term unemployed to move back into work. At this event, we will explore the latest labour market statistics to understand the scale and nature of the challenge, we will examine how the Restart scheme will work, and we will discuss how we can ensure it delivers maximum impact. Book your place.

Launching new resources for pre-apprenticeship providers
Tuesday 9 February | 12.00pm

For the majority of pre-apprenticeship and other work-based learning providers across the globe, adapting to delivering programmes for young people online due to the coronavirus pandemic has been a new experience. This event will launch practical information and guidance to enable providers to learn from wider research and practice in delivering effective blended learning programmes.

Raising the floor: the future of the minimum wage
Wednesday 10 February | 11.00am

Together with Carnegie UK Trust, we have explored how an increase in the minimum wage could be delivered as part of a wider labour market strategy to tackle poverty and improve job quality. Join us to explore to explore what a higher minimum wage would mean for employers, employees and the economy.

Housing, Learning and Work Conference
Thursday 25 February | Online

Bringing together the social housing, employment and skills sectors, this event will explore how we can build back better and support social tenants to access new economic opportunities. Hosted in partnership with Communities that Work, this free and online conference will feature a keynote from Minister for Welfare Delivery, Will Quince MP. Book your place now.

The role of flexible work: tackling unemployment, aiding retention and supporting progression
Monday 1 March | 10.30am

As we look to tackle unemployment after the crisis, promoting more high quality flexible and part time job opportunities will be vital to delivering a more inclusive labour market, and ensuring those who need to work flexibly are not left behind. Join us at this joint event with Timewise, as we explore the findings from the latest Timewise Flexible Jobs Index, what it tells us about the availability of quality flexible and part time job vacancies during 2020.

Blogs
Coronavirus: the local picture | Naomi Clayton, L&W

Apprenticeships at Level 4 and above | Dr Fiona Aldridge for FE News
Press and media
Contact L&W
Leicester (+44) 116 204 4200 | London (+44) 20 7582 7221 | Cardiff (+44) 292 037 0900

E: enquiries@learningandwork.org.uk

Connect with us
 
 
 
 
National Learning and Work Institute

A company limited by guarantee registered no. 2603322 and registered charity no. 1002775,
Registered address: 4th Floor, Arnhem House, 31 Waterloo Way, Leicester, LE1 6LP UK

Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign