Employability and Careers research

Difficulty transitioning from school to higher education or work remains one of the key barriers facing girls in disadvantaged contexts, with far-reaching implications for their futures and wellbeing. In this report, the first in a three-year research project on girls’ transitions into higher education or work, we seek to understand the challenges facing these girls and highlight promising interventions to support their transitions – including in challenging contexts where marginalisation persists.

Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) are key to making apprenticeships more accessible, especially for disadvantaged young people, but many such companies continue to face barriers to offering these opportunities. Existing research has identified many such barriers, but geographical factors have not previously been considered. In our first working paper, we examine how geography impacts SMEs’ likelihood of offering apprenticeships, with a view to informing effective solutions that will result in more equitable apprenticeship opportunities across the UK.

Around the world, young people face considerable challenges. Even before the disruption of the Covid-19 crisis, policymakers were seeking to respond to rapid technological advances, climate change and – in some countries – an ageing population and workforce. While children and young people worldwide generally have high aspirations and ambitions for their futures, evidence shows that they often face problematic and protracted transitions into work. In this context, new pathways from school to employment are needed. In this paper, we review extensive evidence to provide guidance on how children and young people can be best prepared to succeed in their school-to-work transitions, both now and in the future.

Effective careers advice is impossible without good quality labour market information. Careers professionals and advisers, the people whose job it is to offer and support careers advice in the community or in schools, are key to success. Vital to their work is access and familiarity with a robust and sophisticated body of intelligence about the labour market.

This important report was undertaken for CfBT (now Education Development Trust) by the Education and Employers Taskforce. It reviews existing and new evidence about how employer engagement can improve on the learning and progression of young people.

Advice about learning and work for disadvantaged adults.

The aim of this research report is to understand how employers perceive ex-offenders leaving prison, and what can be done to promote employment among this group.

Findings from the Education Development Trust (formerly CfBT Education Trust) International Review undertaken to inform continuous improvements in the teaching and learning of adult basic skills. Written and researched by the National Foundation for Educational Research.

This research study was designed to provide evidence of the skill and competency needs of Connexions practitioners for this area of practice.

The aim of this report is to provide an introduction to a new online professional resource designed to make available international and national research evidence on the impact of careers and guidance-related interventions.

A Follow-Up Study of New Arrangements for Connexions/Careers/IAG Services for Young People in England.

This report explores the increasing number of 16 and 17 year olds in education and training.