Responding to the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s spring statement, Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute (L&W), said:
“It’s good to see the extra £1 billion investment in employment support confirmed, given two in ten out-of-work disabled people want to work but only one in ten get help to find work each year. But it will take time to see the benefit of this investment and the outlook is challenging, with growth remaining low, the world uncertain, skills funding cut by £1 billion in England since 2010, and real wages still £246 per week below their pre-financial crisis trends. Going for growth can only succeed if we have sufficient skilled workers; we need the Government and employers to step up to do this.”
Contact our press office7 Medi 2026
UK must make training the ‘go-to’ response to skills needs, or risk holding back growth, new report warns
The Government’s plans to get the economy growing risk falling short unless it takes action to reverse sharp falls in the training employees get at work, new analysis warns.
27 Awst 2026
Responding to the latest NEET data, August 2026
Learning and Work Institute Deputy Director Elizabeth Gerard responds to the NEET data released on 27 August 2026.
18 Awst 2026
Labour market stats response, August 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
12 Awst 2026
Small employers, big opportunities: apprenticeships for young people
Olly Newton, Executive Director at Edge Foundation, reflects on key messages from the Edge Foundation-sponsored workshop at Learning and Work Institute’s Employment and Skills Convention, exploring how small employers and local partners can support more young people into apprenticeships.
21 Gorffennaf 2026
Labour market stats response, July 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
10 Gorffennaf 2026
Building trust before jobs: supporting NEET young people in East Finchley
Andrew Potter, Project Manager of the JobsPlus pilot in East Finchley, outlines a different approach to supporting young people into employment and training.
18 Mehefin 2026
Labour market stats response, June 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
9 Mehefin 2026
Innovative, “hyper-local” approach to employment support completes two years
An innovative employment support pilot spanning Medway to Merseyside has shown promise reaching social housing residents who are out of work but do not typically access mainstream support.
29 Mai 2026
I found my voice through lifelong learning – others deserve the same chance
Ed Balls, Former Cabinet Minister and Shadow Chancellor, sets out why lifelong learning is vital for the country.