Latest Updates
Understanding the impact of ethnicity on perceptions of workplace skills and training in the North West
Published 8 June 2009
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) commissioned ECOTEC Research and Consulting Ltd in July 2008 to carry out research to understand the impact that ethnicity had on employers' perceptions of the skill and training requirements of their workforce. The research was to be undertaken in the North West of England.
The main aim of the research was to provide actionable findings to inform services delivery about how best to support BME owned businesses in the North West. Priority areas for the research to cover included:
- The processes used by BME businesses to recruit and ascertain the skills that prospective employees have.
- Employer perceptions of training requirements
- Awareness and use of training advice and guidance
- Awareness and use of business support providers and programmes
- The barriers and enablers to accessing training
Identifying sectors with prospects for expanding the number of Apprenticeships
Published 5 May 2009
The World-class Apprenticeships: Unlocking Talent, Building Skills for All, the Government's strategy for the future of Apprenticeships in England highlighted key areas that need to be addressed. To meet the Leitch ambitions by 2020 this would mean over 250,000 starts and 190,000 successful completions.
Growth in the apprenticeship offer and take-up will depend in large part on stimulating employer involvement across sectors - ensuring those that are currently offering apprenticeships continue to do so and expend their offer, and engaging new employers to offer apprenticeships.
This project was commissioned by the LSC to provide assistance to the National Apprenticeship Service in understanding the scope and potential of different sectors to contribute to the meeting of the challenging apprenticeship targets and developing a sector engagement strategy.
To do this Experian were asked to identify those SSC sectors and geographic areas that had the greatest potential for engagement, to document how this process of segmentation was undertaken and to explain why these factors are significant determinants of engagement.
For the first time we will be able to understand the frameworks which are being utilised in employers covered by different SSCs.
Summary report also available
Apprenticeships: A review of the provider base
Published 5 May 2009
This project was completed to meet the following aims:
Develop a core set of intelligence using existing information to enable us to better understand the supply chain;
Understand the 'level' of ambition (in terms of size or turnover) but also 'direction' (in terms of diversifying into new region? New sectors? New LSC funding lines? Extending number of starts amongst certain age groups?) of current apprenticeship providers.
Research to identify the benefits of completing an apprenticeship
Published 27th April 2009
This research was commissioned to understand the impact that completing an apprenticeship has upon the employment outcomes, employability skills and the wider personal and social benefits for individuals.
A total of 3,808 Apprentices were surveyed during November and December of 2008 and January of 2009. Of these, 3,215 were ‘completers’, that is, Apprentices who achieved all the main parts of the Apprenticeship framework – Key Skills certification, the National Vocational Qualification or NVQ, and the Technical Certificate (the qualification appropriate to the occupational area and sector in which the Apprenticeship takes place, which is assessed by a formal written examination). In addition, 593 Apprentices who did not complete all their framework elements (‘early leavers’) were also interviewed.
The total sample (including both completers and early leavers) covered all the English regions, included both Level 2 Apprentices and Level 3 Apprentices, and was comprised of Apprentices whose Apprenticeship came to an end between 2004 and 2008.
Understanding Choice and the Empowered Learner
Published: 16 March 2009
Research undertaken to gain a greater understanding of choice and the empowered learner. The research cuts across policies for both 14-19 and adult learning, and will be of interest to those involved in the development of advisory and guidance services and marketing campaigns.
Skills in England
Update: 5 March 2009
The 2007 edition of Skills in England was the last to be published. The decision not to continue publishing the annual Skills in England report, has been made in part to reflect the change of roles around the responsibilities of research, and because the skills assessment became rapidly outdated by the changing economic conditions.
The UK Commission for Employment and Skills is responsible for producing an annual assessment of progress towards making the UK a world leader in employment and skills by 2020. Their publications will include elements previously covered by Skills in England and reflects their growing role in providing strategic research across the UK.
Research into Expanding Apprenticeships
Published: 7 August 2008
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) commissioned Ipsos MORI and Cambridge Policy Consultants (CPC) to conduct research into how the Apprenticeship programme in England can be expanded to meet the recommendations of Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills (published by HM Treasury in December 2006).
The primary aim of the research was to provide an understanding of employers' and learners' attitudes toward the Apprenticeship programme. This will help the LSC to better understand the factors that lie behind the demand for Apprenticeships, and to consider how policy changes might bring out expansion.
National Learner Satisfaction Survey 2007
Published: 22 July 2008
The National Learner Satisfaction Survey (NLSS) is the largest survey of the post-16 learners ever undertaken in England. The study provides an insight into how satisfied learners are with the provision that the LSC funds.
National Learner Satisfaction Survey: Highlights 2007
This report presents the key findings from the 2007 National Learner Satisfaction Survey (NLSS) conducted by Ipsos MORI with a total of 43,756 learners.
National Learner Satisfaction Survey: Further Education 2007
Sector specific National Learner Satisfaction Survey report with 31,742 learners in the Further Education system. Of interest to anyone involved in sustaining and improving levels of learner satisfaction across the further education sectoronal Learner
National Learner Satisfaction Survey: Workbased Learning 2007
Sector specific National Learner Satisfaction Survey report with 5,580 learners in the Workbased Learning system. Of interest to anyone involved in sustaining and improving levels of learner satisfaction across the work-based learning sector.
National Learner Satisfaction Survey: Personal and Community Development Learning 2007
Sector specific National Learner Satisfaction Survey report presenting the findings for 3,821 learners engaged in personal community development learning (PCDL formerly known as non-accredited adult community learning). Of interest to anyone involved in sustaining and improving levels of learner satisfaction across the adult and community learning sector.
