Research reports

We commissioned three studies looking at how organisations and businesses can engage more effectively with education, in particular 14-19 year olds. We focussed on three areas of the economy – the third sector, the rural economy and the creative industries (the latter was commissioned in partnership with Make Your Mark campaign).

We believe these areas represent our economic future: they create and use innovative products and services; they have a higher than average proportion of small firms and social enterprises; and the rural and creative economies feature high levels of self-employment and portfolio working.

Our report, Work-related learning for an innovation nation, draws on the findings from these studies and makes a number of recommendations for improving work-related learning in the UK.

We’ve also identified a number of case studies that highlight different forms of work-related learning and how they benefit young people, schools and colleges, businesses and third sector organisations.

We will also be testing a series of pilots to demonstrate how work-related learning can help young people prepare for a rapidly changing world. 

  1. Work-related learning for an innovation nation

    Work-related learning for an innovation nation

    This report challenges traditional approaches to work-related learning and examines how they can be adapated to enable young people to develop the skills necessary for the future.

  2. Creative Opportunities

    Creative Opportunities

    Creative opportunities examines the role that the creative industries, one of the fastest growing sectors of the UK economy, can play in work-related learning.

  3. Rural Opportunities report

    Rural Opportunities report

    Rural opportunities examines the barriers to engagement in education for rural employers and how these could be overcome.

  4. Third Sector Opportunities report

    Third Sector Opportunities report

    Third sector opportunies argues that by engaging with the third sector, young people can learn about the competing pressures of making money, pursuing a mission and having impact.