Stephen Evans
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stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans
@stephenevans.bsky.social
1.2K followers 380 following 590 posts

Chief Executive, Learning and Work Institute.
Ex HMT, SMF and London government.
Learning, skills, labour markets & public policy.
Views my own.

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Materials science 21%
Communication & Media Studies 14%
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stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 1d
Sadly so. The latest survey showed one in five adults (9m across England) had low literacy or numeracy. Sometimes this is people who've got the quals but their skills are rusty; often it's linked to the one in three adults who are qualified to GCSE or below level. www.gov.uk/government/p...
Survey of Adult Skills 2023: national report for England
This report looks at the literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills of adults in England in comparison with other countries.
www.gov.uk

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 1d
You're right that needs vary from trade to trade. The learning is meant to be related to the job context, but that didn't always happen as well as it should. So people feel they're learning things not relevant. For me, answer is to fix that not give up altogether which is what they've done!

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 1d
Hi Brian. The chart shows number of adults taking (blue line) and passing (red) English & maths in England each year in any way, including apprenticeships. Fall this year is because Govt said you don't have to pass functional English & maths in your apprenticeship if you don't have it.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 1d
3. 16k fewer apprentices were enrolled in English functional skills after the rule change, 17k fewer in maths. The policy & course content needed refining (e.g. better contextualising skills to jobs). But getting rid of it all together is in my view a backward, short-termist step.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 1d
2. It made me sad to hear Govt ministers describe basic English & maths in apprenticeships (standard in other countries) as 'unnecessary red tape'. Real world result is fewer people improving these skills, holding back them, their employers & our economy. Grading for govt: must do better.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 1d
NEW. Another 5% drop in adults doing English & maths. Numbers ⬇️60% since 2011. Matters as 9m adults have low literacy or numeracy, limiting work & life chances. Current trends = 20+ years to fix. DfE attribute latest fall to removing English & maths reqs from apprenticeships, a backward step IMV

Reposted by Stephen Evans

nyecominetti.bsky.social
Nye Cominetti @nyecominetti.bsky.social · 2d
Glad Govt have made this change. 2 yrs to 6 months is still a HUGE improvement (6m workers will benefit). But this strikes a better balance btw protecting workers and encouraging hiring. It's how most rich countries operate

Argued in favour of this here
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 2d
6. Bigger picture is whether a further rise in NMW & taxes on employers + weak growth mean Govt's employment & young people plans will come a cropper? OBR forecasts employment rate will be flat, so no progress toward the 80% ambition. Policy can do more. But bigger picture & coherence are key issues

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 2d
5. 5-10k work placements for 6m at NMW would be £60-120m pa. Govt says this will save £50m per year in benefits. It's worthwhile for YPs long-term prospects. But eligibility is too narrowly drawn. Our research shows only 1 in 4 NEETs is getting active help from JCP. The other 3 in 4 will miss out.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 2d
4. Speaking of NEETs, Youth Guarantee gets cumulative £820m, about half of which seems to be new money. That's good given there's almost 1m NEETs. But how will it be spent & is it enough? So far we have some trailblazers & a small (5-10kpa?) paid work placement (like Kickstart) for LT NEETs.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 2d
3. Is Govt worried the apprenticeship budget might overspend in future years & reducing demand? Or building room for flex outside apprenticeships? Either way these changes are relatively small & not gamechangers. Apprenticeships for young people are far too low, need to change to reduce NEETs

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 2d
2. Govt is removing SME requirement to pay 5% toward apprenticeship training. I'd guess that's £30m for about 10k apprentices. But it's halving the time before large firms levy pots expire & removing the 10% top up (which would've risen to £500m pa as levy grows). So levy payers will spend less.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 2d
1. Budget reflections: extra £725m for growth & skills levy is cumulative so c£150m per year. And the levy is due to raise £200m more per year than expected due to higher wage growth. So this is really Govt saying it'll spend the extra it raises. It'll still be taking £800m from the levy.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 3d
I’m very pleased to be a reader for these awards. Great to see recognition of innovative practice in further education.

Reposted by Stephen Evans

feweek.bsky.social
FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · 3d
🏆 Four colleges have been named among the winners of the 2025 Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education

feweek.co.uk/royal-recogn...
Royal recognition: 4 colleges win top national prize
Queen Elizabeth Prizes announced for disruptive construction training, AI-powered ESOL, automotive skills leadership and an SME innovator
feweek.co.uk

Reposted by Paul Davies, Stephen Evans, Tim Leunig

stephenkb.bsky.social
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 4d
Ultimately the minimum wage is a brilliant tool, but it can’t compensate for “we haven’t built any housing”, “we have cut cash transfers to the bone” and “all the third spaces have been cut to pay for social care”.
The minimum wage is not a cure all — we’re asking too much of business
Politicians spend too much time uttering cheap rhetoric about cheap labour
www.ft.com

Reposted by Stephen Evans

danneidle.bsky.social
Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 4d
These reports the Government could revalue council tax bands F, G and H don't make sense to me. Here's what could actually be going on:

Reposted by Stephen Evans

libdems.org.uk
Liberal Democrats @libdems.org.uk · 9d
Today is Carers Rights Day. Across the country people are caring for each other and dealing with tough times.

This isn't just Ed’s story. It's the story of millions, and that's who the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for.

Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
Learning and Work Institute @learnworkuk.bsky.social · 9d
@stephenevans.bsky.social, Chief Executive of L&W, responds to today’s NEET data release from the Office for National Statistics.

learningandwork.org.uk/news-and-pol...

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 9d
Another set of worrying NEET stats, 946k 16-24s not in education, employment or training. Hoping the Chancellor will speed up action on Youth Guarantee for England in her Budget. But also need a growing economy & businesses taking YP on. Policy impact on hiring a bit more ahem mixed at the moment...

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 10d
Some great FE examples too, as ever. Eg Weston College Jobcentre Plus ‘takeover’ day led to lots of referrals to pre employment provision & better engagement with local council & JCP.

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 10d
Off to the AoC conference to speak at a ‘hot topic’ session on adult education. Including how we make it more of a hot topic for policymakers, employers and others. Hopefully see some of you there at 10.50.

Reposted by Stephen Evans

omaromalleykhan.bsky.social
Omar Khan @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social · 10d
Link to the @suttontrust.bsky.social report here

www.suttontrust.com/our-research...
Degrees of Difference - The Sutton Trust
What role does higher education play in driving social mobility across the world?
www.suttontrust.com

Reposted by Stephen Evans

danneidle.bsky.social
Dan Neidle @danneidle.bsky.social · 15d
NEW - we've data showing huge numbers of people reducing their income to avoid high marginal income tax rates. Not just at the £100k point (as previously reported). But at the £50k point:

Reposted by Stephen Evans

thetimes.com
The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 15d
🔺NEW: Rachel Reeves given £10bn extra headroom ahead of income tax climbdown

The fiscal watchdog said the hole in public finances was now closer to £20bn, prompting chancellor’s market-spooking U-turn
Reeves given £10bn extra headroom ahead of income tax climbdown
Rachel Reeves given £10bn extra headroom ahead of income tax climbdown
www.thetimes.com

Reposted by Will Jennings, Andrew Scott, Stephen Evans , and 2 more

stephenkb.bsky.social
Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 15d
Big scoop by my colleagues, this:
Starmer and Reeves ditch Budget plan to increase income tax rates
Chancellor explores alternative ways to raise revenue to fill fiscal hole estimated at up to £30bn
www.ft.com

Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
Learning and Work Institute @learnworkuk.bsky.social · 15d
Inspiring evening at the Mayor of London Adult Learning Awards which we are thrilled to support. 🏆

Congratulations to all the incredible winners and finalists!

#MOLawards

Reposted by Stephen Evans

julianhjessop.bsky.social
Julian Jessop @julianhjessop.bsky.social · 16d
Really important chart from the ONS... 🤓

The flipside of the fall in payroll jobs is that the UK's performance on labour productivity may actually have improved sharply - just as the OBR is about to downgrade its estimates for trend growth in the Budget 🙄

Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
Learning and Work Institute @learnworkuk.bsky.social · 16d
"This award reflects our commitment to embedding learning and inclusive employment pathways into the heart of regeneration." 🌍

Check out coverage in London TV of our #GetTheNationLearning Net Zero Hero award winner Lendlease. ⬇️🗞️
Newham partnership wins national lifelong learning award for net zero innovation - London TV
A partnership between Lendlease, a real estate business delivering urbanisation and sustainable development projects, and Our Newham Learning and Skills, has been recognised with the ‘Net Zero Hero’ A...
london-tv.co.uk

stephenevans.bsky.social
Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 17d
2. Not to say there hasn't been real growth in people claiming benefits because they're out of work due to health since the pandemic. There has. And we need to offer better help to find work to those that can work. learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...
The benefit trap
learningandwork.org.uk