Skills analyst Andy Norman outlines the challenges of doing labour market analysis at the pathway level.
How do we invest in high quality social infrastructure – such as health and social care, education, skills and affordable childcare – to drive inclusive economic growth? What might this mean for how we deliver effective, affordable and accountable public services and welfare?
Working with a number of local, regional and national stakeholders, the Centre for Progressive Policy examines how the welfare state can respond to the pace of demographic, technological and labour market change. This includes the design of national systems, processes and minimum standards, as well as the interaction with and development of place-based approaches for economic and social policy and investment.
Skills analyst Andy Norman outlines the challenges of doing labour market analysis at the pathway level
Skills analyst Andy Norman outlines the challenges of doing labour market analysis at the pathway level.
Skills analyst Andy Norman reviews the recent policy developments announced in the Budget and Industrial Strategy White Paper
In his Budget speech the Chancellor Phillip Hammond spoke of building a ‘prosperous and inclusive economy where everybody has the opportunity to shine.’ It is a line in keeping with the type of language that has come to characterise the current government’s ambitions since Theresa May’s speech on the steps of Downing Street in July 2016.
Continue reading “The skills challenge: turning rhetoric into reality”
Using the example of the automotive industry, skills analyst Andy Norman explains why Britain must first solve its skills crisis if it is to make the most of Brexit
As those tasked with negotiating Brexit will not doubt be discovering, the complications of disentangling the UK and EU economies are immense. This is especially true when it comes to trade, with roughly 44% of the UK’s exported goods and services going to EU countries in 2016. But the issue isn’t simply that we sell a lot to the EU, rather that the things we sell often have supply chains that rival even the most adventurous summer Interrail routes.
While recent apprenticeships policy has tended to focus on quantity, skills analyst Andy Norman argues that if we are to tackle the country’s skills shortages we need to prioritise quality
Apprenticeships form a pivotal part of any country’s attempts to ensure its population has the technical skills needed for the economy to grow and thrive. An effective apprenticeships system can reduce skills gaps, increase productivity and drive social mobility. While this area of skills policy is nothing new – the use of formal apprenticeships in the UK dates back to at least the 16th century – it is one that governments have continually struggled to get right.
Continue reading “Why apprenticeship policy must prioritise quality”
Skills analyst Andy Norman discusses how the Conservative and Labour Manifestos compare on technical skills
In the aftermath of the 2017 election manifesto launches it was the politically partisan issues of social care, renationalisation and tax that dominated the headlines. Yet it was encouraging to see, despite its relative lack of media attention, both the Labour and Conservative manifestos recognise skills policy as central to the UK’s future prosperity.
Continue reading “Technical skills: How do the election manifestos compare?”
Recent analysis by the Centre suggests that the economy is being held back by a lack of key technical skills, with as many as 43% of vacancies for technical roles categorised as skills shortage vacancies.
Earlier this month, in the latest step along a path of regional devolution designed to drive local economic growth across the country, metro mayors were elected in six of the UK’s new combined authorities. In the West Midlands, Conservative Party candidate Andy Street narrowly beat Labour’s Siôn Simon to become the city region’s first elected mayor.
Continue reading “How a lack of technical skills may be holding back the West Midlands economy”
The Centre responds to the government’s recent green paper, ‘Building our Industrial Strategy’
The government recently published its industrial strategy green paper, outlining its vision for ‘a stronger, fairer Britain that works for everyone’. The Centre for Progressive Capitalism welcomes the government’s ambition to improve living standards and economic growth displayed in the paper.
Continue reading “Response to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper”
As the new Apprenticeship Levy comes into effect, Centre analyst Andy Norman argues that, if armed with the right information, LEPs can ensure apprenticeships drive inclusive growth up and down the country.
Continue reading “How LEPs can ensure apprenticeships drive inclusive growth”
The Centre responds to a number of policy announcements made by the Chancellor Philip Hammond in the 2017 Budget.
The story of Britain’s post 1945 economy has largely been one of governments trying to work out why productivity across the UK has been so much lower than in other advanced economies. So it shouldn’t be surprising that when the Chancellor of the Exchequer stepped up to deliver his last spring budget, productivity was mentioned 10 times in the speech.