Learning and Work Institute has been working in partnership with Edinburgh College to develop a pilot to support low-income workers in Scotland to progress into better jobs.
Funded by The Robertson Trust, the initial phase explored existing approaches to supporting low-income workers to progress into better jobs that could be adapted to the Edinburgh context. This evidence of what works was then used to inform a co-design phase where low-income workers, employers, and local training providers came together to design a programme based on the WorkAdvance model. The Step Up in Care programme would support people in Edinburgh to move into and progress within roles in the social care sector.
Looking forward, we hope to pilot Step Up in Care in Edinburgh. The pilot would be accompanied by a robust evaluation to contribute to the evidence base on what works to support working people to move into fair, sustainable jobs. If successful, the programme could represent an opportunity to improve outcomes for workers, strengthen the social care sector, and build a stronger evidence base for fair work in Edinburgh and beyond.
Our research
Discover our interim and final reports from the project
Interim report: Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
This report shares findings from the first phase of the programme to build the evidence base on what works to best support low-income workers to progress into better jobs, and to adapt and test proven in-work progression models in Scotland.
Final report: Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
This report shares findings from the second phase of the programme and sets out a proposed model for a new, evidence-led, in-work progression programme in Edinburgh.
Funded by
7 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.
7 Medi 2026
Understanding employer investment in skills
This is the third and final report of our project funded by the Nuffield Foundation looking at employer investment in skills, and how employees are responding to the need to upskill and retrain in a transitioning economy.
18 Awst 2026
Labour market dashboard
Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.
29 Mehefin 2026
What enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local work and health programmes?
This report presents findings from an evidence review on what enables the effective design, delivery and evaluation of local health and work programmes.
29 Mehefin 2026
Scoping report: Labour Market Evidence Programme
This scoping report as part of the Labour Market Evidence programme provides a summary of the work undertaken by IES and L&W between October 2025 and March 2026 including user consultation. It summarises the evidence needs of local policy makers and sets out how these needs can be addressed.
9 Mehefin 2026
Final report: Evaluation of the JobsPlus Pilot
This evaluation of JobsPlus builds on the interim findings published in September 2025 to provide evidence on whether the model can be adapted to the UK context and effectively implemented to improve employment outcomes.
1 Ebrill 2026
Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
With funding from the Robertson Trust, Learning and Work Institute has been working in partnership with Edinburgh College to develop a pilot to support low-income workers in Scotland to progress into better jobs.
1 Ebrill 2026
Final report: Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland
This report shares findings from the second phase of our programme of work funded by the Robertson Trust and delivered in partnership with Edinburgh College. It sets out a proposed model for a new, evidence-led, in-work progression programme in Edinburgh.
13 Mawrth 2026
UK’s training and skills ‘tick-box culture’ puts at risk job mobility and future growth, new report warns
New analysis has identified an overreliance on mandatory and compliance training in UK workplaces compared to other countries – at the expense of more in-depth upskilling required for the jobs of the future.
