There's One Million NEETs In The UK. Are We Doing Enough? 

The Government’s announced another £1 billion of funding to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). This comes on top of previous announcements…

Bold new plan needed to help 60,000 more people into work in Wales and tackle economic inactivity.

Wales should set a bold ambition for at least three quarters of working-age people to be in work, closing the employment gap with the rest…

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal meets London learners at an event for adults’ access to essential skills learning

On Wednesday 3 December, Learning and Work Institute was delighted to welcome their patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to an event in London…

No Train, No Gain: Working Class People Paid More When They Get Training From Their Employer

Former Education Secretary Alan Johnson calls for system that works equally for school leavers and older workers Experts are calling on the Government to do…

Shine a light on the heroes of adult learning - celebrate the tutors who inspire, support, and transform lives every day.

Learning and Work Institute announces the launch of the Inspire! Tutor Awards 2026, celebrating the dedication, passion, and impact of adult learning tutors across Wales.…

Post-pandemic leap in lifelong learning appears over, as national survey finds freefalling participation rates

Experts are warning of a “workforce learning slowdown” as the long-running Adult Participation in Learning Survey records a sharp contraction in the number of adults learning nationally.…

What Difference Could Moving Skills to DWP Make?

The recent move of skills policy for England to DWP means things will be different for Jacqui Smith, she now has offices in two Departments.…

Restoring Adult Skills Attainment to 2010 Levels Could Boost the Economy by £22Bn

A new report from Learning and Work Institute is calling for sustained action to reverse over a decade of decline in adult literacy and numeracy…

Delivering A More Inclusive Welsh Labour Market

Employment support in Wales is changing, with the UK Labour Government committing to the devolution of all non-Jobcentre Plus employment support programmes. Learning and Work…

‘Off the Grid’: Just one in four young people who are NEET get help from the employment support system to find work

New research has revealed a critical disconnect between the number of England’s young people who are ‘NEET’ and the number who receive employment support services.…

More than 700 people engaged and 150 in jobs as housing associations across England trial new model of employment support for their tenants

Over 700 people have engaged in a new, community-led approach to finding work and increasing their earnings as a pilot programme involving social housing landlords…

Nearly 6 million People are Balancing Employment with Unpaid Care, New report finds

Targeted support is required to help them pursue fulfilling careers, new research finds A new report from Learning and Work Institute (L&W) warns the UK…

Reforming the ‘benefit trap’ to offer more support to disabled people could help half a million more people into work by 2035

The benefit system is trapping 3.5 million people on sickness benefits – many of whom want to work – in a dead end of too…

Celebrating the Impact of Outstanding Educators in Wales

Exceptional tutors from across Wales have been presented with an Inspire! Award, in recognition of their dedication to helping adults return to education and overcome…

Engage with younger workers to avoid physical and mental health risks of working from home, employers warned

New research finds that hybrid working has the potential to make jobs healthier and more accessible, and that almost half of people would only consider…

Stark and growing inequalities in adult participation in learning revealed by national survey

A national survey from Learning and Work Institute finds that persistent inequalities, including by age, region and employment status, continue to affect participation in learning.…

Six steps for quick progress for the new Government

We have a new government that says it wants to fix the foundations of our economy to deliver change, and has talked about the infrastructure…

Learning & Work is calling for a “flex and match” Skills Levy - Sector Reaction

Young people and the north of England bear the brunt of falls in apprenticeship numbers “Counterproductive” government reforms to funding have led apprenticeship numbers in…

Cuts to skills funding hit poorest areas hardest and put £20 billion of economic growth at risk

Millions of lost opportunities to improve qualifications are holding back economic growth and creating a “great skills divide” as a result of cuts to skills…

Invest in employment and skills to restart the engines of growth

Stephen explains the UK’s engines of growth have stalled since 2008, resulting in lower average earnings and public services under strain. The Chancellor’s recent Budget…

Calling on nominations for the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards  

Stephen explains the UK’s engines of growth have stalled since 2008, resulting in lower average earnings and public services under strain. The Chancellor’s recent Budget…

Time for a £15 minimum wage?

With the minimum wage set to rise 9.8% on 1 April 2024, Stephen Evans asks: should the national minimum wage be raised further to support…

Funding for adult learning risks overlooking nine million adults without basic literacy or numeracy skills, briefing warns

Nine million adults in England lack essential literacy or numeracy skills and will continue to lose out without increased and targeted investment, a new briefing…

Entries open for the Inspire! Tutor Awards 2024 - nominate an inspirational tutor or mentor in Wales

Behind successful adult learners there are inspirational tutors and mentors committed to delivering lifelong learning, contributing to future generations, and empowering individuals and communities to…

A Citizens’ Curriculum for Wales?

In his speech to the Adult Learning Conference in 2022, the Minister for Education and the Welsh Language Jeremy Miles MS committed to positioning Wales…

Adult Learners’ Week: Let the adventure start

Adult Learners’ Week launches in Wales on the 18 September, a national campaign to promote lifelong learning opportunities, with a celebration of life-changing stories through…

We need to level up lifelong learning​

Lifelong learning is one of those things that many people – including politicians – are in favour of in principle, but where that doesn’t always…

The Road to Recovery: What the new Prime Minister Needs to do

The new Prime Minister needs to prioritise additional help for people on the lowest incomes, a plan to widen participation in the labour market and…

Encouraging women in STEM: an answer to the green skills gap?

With rising global temperatures, the demand for green skills is also expected to rise. A positive step towards achieving net zero is to ensure that…

L&W research: The proportion of adults with low levels of literacy and numeracy varies drastically across England

Huge disparity in adult literacy and numeracy must be tackled to boost levelling up, analysis shows The proportion of adults with low levels of literacy…