Posted By
Annie Peate
12 March 2012
A new report published today (12 March) by the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) claims women aren’t after examples of female role models who have ‘given it all’ to reach senior management positions. Instead, women would prefer to see mentors who have achieved a successful work/life balance – without the sacrifice repeatedly advertised as integral to success.
Read More
Posted By
Nicola Mendelsohn, IPA President and Executive Chairman and Partner, Karmarama
09 March 2012
Together the creative industries represent 5.6% of UK GVA, is the UK’s third largest export sector and generates £59bn. But, as I set out in my inaugural speech as IPA President, if we are to maintain our strong position and pioneering spirit in this rapidly evolving and converging marketplace, we must build better skills and connections - as well as re-energise the industry with fresh talent.
Read More
Posted By
Professor Stephen Bevan
09 March 2012
The Work Foundation, ever since its earliest incarnation as the Boy’s Welfare Society in 1918, has always had a strong conviction that work can and should be an enriching and animating experience for everyone. In the last decade, we’ve been carrying out research on the economic and social consequences of the steady decline in job quality in the UK labour market. We have argued in favour of more Good Work because it helps drive labour productivity, employee engagement, physical and psychological health and well-being.
Read More
Posted By
Annie Peate
08 March 2012
Today (8 March) marks the 101th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Undoubtedly this special day, celebrated by women and men all around the world, gives us all the opportunity to collectively reflect on the progress, achievements and successes of women past and present. And there have been many.
Read More
Posted By
Brhmie Balaram
08 March 2012
Much has been made of “Tech City”, the growing hub of high-tech firms clustered around Old Street in East London. Three months ago Prime Minister David Cameron applauded the growth of more than 600 technology firms in the area, and the opportunities these could provide. While Tech City is undoubtedly a driver of urban regeneration in Hackney, what exactly does this mean for local residents, and in particular, what does this mean for youth?
Read More
Posted By
Charles Levy
06 March 2012
Today’s (6 Mar) release from ONS does rather suggest that we may have too many graduates. They lead with two stylised facts “Recent graduates more likely to work in lower skill jobs than a decade ago” and “Over the same period the population of recent graduates who are no longer in education has increased by over 41 per cent”. From this it is not too much of a stretch to imagine this afternoon’s headlines and tomorrow’s comment pieces will claim that we should cut student numbers.
Read More
Posted By
Spencer Thompson
06 March 2012
Yesterday (5 Mar), Tesco boss Philip Clarke announced a shift in the company’s direction. After a poor fourth quarter in 2011, the heavy-hitting supermarket chain is to invest more in the quality of its fresh produce and customer service, as well as in the choice of products on offer. This is an interesting development which, if carried out on a large scale and replicated by other large retailers, may change how we view retail as a sector.
Read More
Posted By
Laura O'Brien
01 March 2012
Last week it emerged that the unemployment rate was 25% for the 21-year-olds leaving university last year, compared to 20% of 18-year-old school leavers. There is a growing feeling amongst the public that widening participation in higher education has led to a proliferation of ‘mickey mouse’ degrees and a corresponding drop in the quality of graduates. In 2010 a YouGov opinion poll found that 52 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement "too many students are going to university now and it's devaluing degrees".
Worries over the link between widening participation and a perceived decline in graduate quality are still making headlines, most recently during the debate over the appointment of Les Ebdon as head of the Office for Fair Access. Commentators were quick to deride the nature and quality of courses available at the University of Bedfordshire, where Ebdon is Vice-Chancellor, and to brand his approach to access as a ‘model of mediocrity’. So should we be losing faith in
Read More
Posted By
Charles Levy
28 February 2012
We know that our higher education sector is under strain. Complicated caps on student numbers, changes in tuition fees and the ‘impact’ agenda have created a baffling mix of institutional and individual incentives across the sector. In this context Sir Tim Wilson today published his review setting out over 50 recommendations for how to improve university-business collaboration.
Read More
Posted By
Lizzie Crowley and Dr Paul Sissons
24 February 2012
There has been a huge amount of debate (and confusion) about the Work Experience placements offered to unemployed 16-24 year olds through the government’s Get Britain Working initiative
Read More
Posted By
Andreea Moise
24 February 2012
Yesterday, The Work Foundation hosted a roundtable discussion of 15 business leaders from both the public and private sector discussing the implications of open innovation for people management - and potential strategies for building effective workforces through open innovation.
Read More
Posted By
Ksenia Zheltoukhova
24 February 2012
We know that work is good for our health. However, with too much work, the productivity value may in fact decrease with each extra hour, as working overtime regularly leads to burnout.
Read More
Posted By
Nye Cominetti
22 February 2012
For those who can work, secure and lasting employment is surely one of the best routes out of homelessness and poverty. Even if they are given somewhere to live, homeless families and individuals who fail to find work will remain vulnerable - at risk of losing their home again and, at best, reliant on benefits.
Read More
Posted By
Dr Paul Sissons
22 February 2012
Yesterday Nick Clegg announced further details of the NEET prevention strand of the Youth Contract. The £126 million scheme, which will be in England only, will focus on those 16 and 17 year olds with poor qualifications (without a GCSE at grade C or above) who are outside education, employment and training.
Read More
Posted By
Ian Brinkley
16 February 2012
Yesterday’s unemployment figures made grim reading with 2.7 million unemployed on the international standardised measure used by the International Labour Office (ILO). This includes all those who said they had looked for work in the past 4 weeks and were able to start a job in 2 weeks time.
Read More