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Reposted by Stephen Evans

swannphil.bsky.social
A piece of myth-busting essential reading….

on.ft.com/48sdQoR No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
No need for a moral panic about the welfare system
It’s far from perfect, but the UK’s spending is broadly controlled and employment is high
on.ft.com
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
Read L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social's comment on today's labour market statistics from ONS in @personneltoday.bsky.social. 🗞️
Falls in vacancies are ‘levelling off’, says ONS
Declines in job vacancies and the number of payrolled employees are levelling off according to October labour market data from the ONS.
www.personneltoday.com
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

ufitrust.bsky.social
Three weeks to go until Get the Nation Learning Week 🙌

Every year, our Strategic Partner @learnworkuk.bsky.social shines a light on making (and winning) the case for lifelong learning

We're looking forward to this year's activities

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4o9Emb7
Two vocational workers in hi-vis safety vests and gloves smiling while discussing over a digital tablet in an industrial setting
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
Skills have been in a lot of Departments over the years. But here's some things DWP could do including:
1. Devolving more & reducing the proliferation of plans
2. Simplifying & boosting provision esp for young people.
3. Greater focus on career change & essential skills
4. More evidence & open data
learnworkuk.bsky.social
Learning and Work Institute @learnworkuk.bsky.social · 1d
"If the Government wants to grasp the opportunity, there’s a chance to take some genuine steps forward."

What difference could moving skills to DWP make?

📝 L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social tackles this in @fenews.bsky.social, looking at six areas where a real difference can be made.
What Difference Could Moving Skills to DWP Make? | FE News
| What Difference Could Moving Skills to DWP Make?
www.fenews.co.uk
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
"If the Government wants to grasp the opportunity, there’s a chance to take some genuine steps forward."

What difference could moving skills to DWP make?

📝 L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social tackles this in @fenews.bsky.social, looking at six areas where a real difference can be made.
What Difference Could Moving Skills to DWP Make? | FE News
| What Difference Could Moving Skills to DWP Make?
www.fenews.co.uk
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
Meantime there's still 1.2m 16-24 year olds not in full-time education or work, storing up trouble for them & society. Conference announcements around paid work placements for LT NEETs & higher HE participation are welcome. But we must go further & faster. learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...
Learning and Work Institute's vision for a Youth Guarantee
learningandwork.org.uk
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
Falls in employment seem to be easing, but the labour market is flat. Employment falls, and perhaps not uncoincidentally wage rises (linked partly to NMW rises), largest in sectors like retail & hospitality. Reminder: we need 2m more people in work to hit the Government's 80% employment target.
learnworkuk.bsky.social
Learning and Work Institute @learnworkuk.bsky.social · 1d
"Sectoral differences remain with payroll employment down 110,000 in retail and hospitality compared to a year ago."

L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social responds to today's labour market statistics released by ONS. ✍️

Sign up to receive our full briefing: learningandwork.org.uk/supporter-ne...
Labour market analysis, 14 October 2025
Learning and Work Institute's response to the labour market stats for October 2025, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
learningandwork.org.uk
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
"Sectoral differences remain with payroll employment down 110,000 in retail and hospitality compared to a year ago."

L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social responds to today's labour market statistics released by ONS. ✍️

Sign up to receive our full briefing: learningandwork.org.uk/supporter-ne...
Labour market analysis, 14 October 2025
Learning and Work Institute's response to the labour market stats for October 2025, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
learningandwork.org.uk
2

Reposted by Stephen Evans

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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
Connect to Work is a genuinely good idea to join up work & health & help Universal Credit health claimants into work. Some good stuff already happening. But we just need to crack on at this stage. Reminder: this started life as Universal Support under last govt & is still being rolled out!
learnworkuk.bsky.social
Learning and Work Institute @learnworkuk.bsky.social · 5d
“We need to move rapidly into scaled up delivery if we’re to make a real difference to the number of people finding work.”

Great to see @stephenevans.bsky.social quoted in @thetimes.com on the Government's expansion of Connect to Work. 📰

✍️ @chris-smyth.bsky.social
Job advisers in GP surgeries will help long-term sick back to work
Ministers are promising every area of England will have job advice experts in medical centres as part of their expansion of back-to-work support
www.thetimes.com
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
“We need to move rapidly into scaled up delivery if we’re to make a real difference to the number of people finding work.”

Great to see @stephenevans.bsky.social quoted in @thetimes.com on the Government's expansion of Connect to Work. 📰

✍️ @chris-smyth.bsky.social
Job advisers in GP surgeries will help long-term sick back to work
Ministers are promising every area of England will have job advice experts in medical centres as part of their expansion of back-to-work support
www.thetimes.com
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
This was a great report by 5 News and fabulous to hear from adult learners about how low literacy was affecting their lives & how changing that was changing their lives. Adult learning is a good investment for people, the economy & society. #AmbitionSkills
learnworkuk.bsky.social
Learning and Work Institute @learnworkuk.bsky.social · 6d
Watch 5 News coverage of our new #AmbitionSkills report featuring @stephenevans.bsky.social! 📺

The report envisions a lifelong learning century where more people learn throughout life, and shows restoring adult skills to 2010 levels could boost the economy by £22bn.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szku...
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
Watch 5 News coverage of our new #AmbitionSkills report featuring @stephenevans.bsky.social! 📺

The report envisions a lifelong learning century where more people learn throughout life, and shows restoring adult skills to 2010 levels could boost the economy by £22bn.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szku...
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
New @learnworkuk.bsky.social report out today. Thanks @feweek.bsky.social for great article on it. Full thread from me tomorrow, delayed by today’s L&W away day (there was truffle making).
Bag of chocolate truffles
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by Stephen Evans

View post

Reposted by Stephen Evans

ukshane.bsky.social
We think the V stands for Vocational - but we'll see what the nation's teenagers think...

feweek.co.uk/revealed-v-l...
Revealed: V Levels incoming as axe looms for BTECs
Ministers are poised to announce new qualifications as 'third route' between A-levels and T Levels as colleges prepare to axe applied generals
feweek.co.uk
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
That’s helpful clarification. Do you know if we’re talking 2/3 of 18-30s or a different age range? I’ll try and crunch some numbers and see a bit more of what it’d mean.
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
Yes, but I assume they’re talking about 18-30s (the focus on the 50% target) or possibly a narrower range. Agree we’re in the top group for tertiary on most measures though, although focused on one type of provision for one age group (which they’ll likely want to flex).
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
It’ll be interesting to see what they do mean. If it’s 2/3 of 18 year olds going to HE or an apprenticeship then that’s definitely different to 2/3 18-30s.
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
3. In short, not clear this is a step change in numbers. But a clear signal & something to measure action against & allows possible resource & numbers shift to vocational routes. And who’d have thought a PM would say FE is a defining focus of the Government. A lot done, a lot to do.
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
2. Targets can focus systems. So clear signal here is about apprenticeships for young people. Possible shift in numbers from HE to apps? How will we define ‘high quality’ and young people? I’m assuming L3+ & 16-30, which would mean some rises from now. But let’s see.
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
New target for 2/3 young people to do HE or an apprenticeship is probably broadly sensible (abolishing 50% HE target that doesn’t exist is about headlines). But is it ambitious? 25% of YP already do apprenticeships. 50% do HE. Some overlap & likely app drop since this data. But just describing now?
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Reposted by Stephen Evans, Anand Menon

jackkessler.bsky.social
The lowest paid in Britain have enjoyed a 70% rise in the minimum wage over the last 25 years — in real terms.

But stagnant median earnings have left the professional classes able neither to afford the lifestyles of the rich, nor to match the upward mobility of those below.

My newsletter, out now.
The Great Compression
A rising minimum wage has helped the worse off — but is now edging uncomfortably close to the middle class
www.linestotake.com
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
In @feweek.bsky.social, L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social comments on the GLA's plans to introduce sector employer boards in London.

💬 Stephen said he hopes “the new boards will look at increasing employer investment in training, which has fallen 36 per cent in the last 20 years.”
Khan puts business bosses in skills driving seat
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is seeking employers in key sectors to join boards to 'ultimately lead commissioning' of skills, work and careers programmes.
feweek.co.uk
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
Great to see L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social's comment on the Government's plans to tackle youth unemployment in @feweek.bsky.social. ⬇️📰
Chancellor to ‘guarantee’ job or training place to young NEETs
New scheme to strip benefits from young people that refuse work or training in a bid to tackle rising NEETs
feweek.co.uk
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by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
Pleased to be quoted in this piece. This is a really welcome step, though we need details on how we’ll ensure quality placements & support. We also need eligibility to encompass all who can benefit. Important to see as part of wider Youth Guarantee plans.
feweek.bsky.social
FE Week @feweek.bsky.social · 16d
📢 Out of work young people will be ‘guaranteed’ a work or training place in a bid to tackle rising NEETs, the chancellor will announce later today

feweek.co.uk/chancellor-t...
Chancellor to ‘guarantee’ job or training place to young NEETs
New scheme to strip benefits from young people that refuse work or training in a bid to tackle rising NEETs
feweek.co.uk
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
Check out L&W chief exec @stephenevans.bsky.social's comments in @telegraphnews.bsky.social on how we can best support young people not in education, employment or training. ⬇️💬

@eirnolsoe.bsky.social

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202... 🗞️
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

learnworkuk.bsky.social
"It's important this offer is open to all young people who need it, regardless of their benefit status."

In @thetimes.com, @stephenevans.bsky.social welcomes the Government's plans to offer paid work to young people not in work or training, but calls for more details.

@chris-smyth.bsky.social
Young people to lose benefits if they refuse job offers
Rachel Reeves is to announce a plan to seek out young people not in work or training, and ‘abolish’ long-term youth unemployment
www.thetimes.com
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Reposted by Stephen Evans

feweek.bsky.social
📢 Out of work young people will be ‘guaranteed’ a work or training place in a bid to tackle rising NEETs, the chancellor will announce later today

feweek.co.uk/chancellor-t...
Chancellor to ‘guarantee’ job or training place to young NEETs
New scheme to strip benefits from young people that refuse work or training in a bid to tackle rising NEETs
feweek.co.uk

by Stephen Evans

stephenevans.bsky.social
Rhetoric might focus on losing benefits if not taking up help. But actual announcement is paid work placements for 18-21s on benefit for 18m+. This is sensible, if not a huge group. Widen eligibility, ensure quality work, can make a real difference.
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