CFE's latest publications can be found below.
Jobcentre Plus and Next Steps: Evaluation of the co-location trials
Presents findings from case study visits to 8 of the 22 Jobcentres that took part in the joint location trials with Next Step (now known as the National Careers Service).It highlights key issues arising from the research with a view to contributing to the success of the wider roll out of joint location in Jobcentres in England.
The full report can be found here.
Experiencing Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Europe
This is an international report CFE has done in partnership with other organisations that provides insights into the experiences of 17 and 18 year old VET students in 7 EU countries.
The full report can be found here.
Using and sharing career related LMI
These publications were researched and written on behalf of UKCES. The reports are a practical good practice guide for managers within career guidance organisations and a research report which contains the 12 good practice case studies.
Global Graduates into Global Leaders
Given that the job market for graduates is becoming increasingly global, the Council for Industry and Higher Education (CIHE), Association for Graduate Recruiters (AGR) and CFE Research and Consulting, came together to explore the topic of global graduate employablity and the ways in which UK universities can work with business to ensure that future graduates meet the expectations of global and international employers (including SMEs who operate across territories).
The Road to Volunteering: Exploring the role of Jobcentre Plus and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) advisers in promoting and signposting volunteering to young people aged 16-25
v, The National Young Volunteers’ Service, and CFE have produced a report exploring the role of Jobcentre Plus and Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) advisers in promoting and signposting volunteering to young people aged 16-25.
Reforming the skills system: lessons learned the hard way
This joint report with IoD is based on a critique of government policy in the 2000s allied to research carried out among employers, sets out to challenge existing thinking about skills policy and to offer an 'employer's eye view' of the skills system. It analyses the latest skills strategy and concludes that while the new government's approach to skills policy should be broadly welcomed, there are some worrying signs that it may repeat policy mistakes of the past.
The Road Less Travelled: experiences of employers that support the progression of Advanced Apprentices to higher education
Very few Advanced Apprentices currently progress to higher education - for most, this is the road less travelled. As the government has clearly indicated that the burden of funding higher education will shift from the state towards individuals and employers, it is increasingly important to understand why and how employers support the progression of Advanced Apprentices and to identify the associated costs and benefits.
Learner Progression Matrix: progression for Apprentices
In June 2010 Aimhigher West Area Partnership commissioned CFE to trial the Learner Progression Matrix (LPM) in a work-based learning setting.
The underlying concept behind the Learner Progression Matrix is a desire to acknowledge that progression to higher levels of education requires more than just attainment of qualifications. Because attainment of qualifications is easier to measure, government and providers often focus on achieving attainment outcomes, neglecting other key requirements for progression, notably aspiration to progress and awareness of progression opportunities and wider issues relating to employment and skills. Based upon this idea that learner progression is a product of three interrelated factors, we can derive a simple equation for progression from the point of view of the learner:
Aspiratin + Awareness + Attainment = Progression
The Learner Progression Matrix is a visual planning tool that enables the provider, learner or employer to reflect upon the three components of progression described above.
Micro Study Measuring the Impact of CPD on Employers
This micro-study explores the issues associated with the measurement of the extent and impact of CPD delivery in HEIs. Drawing on the substantial experience of FE and private training providers in developing an extensive approach to impact measurement with employers, we have produced several recommendations and areas for further study.
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Offenders in Custody Apprenticeship pilot Evaluation
CFE has produced an evaluation report on behalf of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) of the Offenders in Custody Apprenticeship pilot to highlight good practice and lessons learned. The report will also inform an initial model which could be developed and piloted further in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
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Evaluation of the Enterprising People, Enterprising Places (EP2) Programme
CFE has conducted an independent impact evaluation of the Enterprising People, Enterprising Places (Ep2) Programme, a programme designed to promote economic development at the local level by providing training to community development and regeneration practitioners.
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Role of public libraries in supporting and promoting digital participation
CFE has produced a report on behalf of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) to highlight the role of public libraries in opening up free online access and providing support to help people get online.
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Generation Crunch: the demand for recent graduates from SMEs
CFE has carried out a survey to explore the demand for recent graduates, termed Generation Crunch, from 500 small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the East Midlands.
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Staying In, Moving Up: Employment Retention and Progression in London
CFE, commissioned by the London Development Agency (LDA) has carried out research to measure employment retention and progression in London. The report sets out the challenge London faces to help people get in, stay in and move on at work.
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Apprenticeship vacancies system evaluation - interim report
CFE was commissioned by NAS and the Learning and Skills Council to undertake a longitudinal evaluation of the Apprenticeship vacancies system. The scope of the research is to evaluate the success of the Apprenticeship vacancies system, including the views of learners, employers and learning providers.
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Third Sector engagement with Apprenticeships
CFE, commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council in the South East, has undertaken a review of Third Sector engagement with Apprenticeships to identify the key operational principles of good practice and any barriers faced when promoting Apprenticeships to Third Sector employers.
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Lessons from history: Increasing the number of 16 and 17 year olds in education and training
CFE, commissioned by CfBT Education Trust, has undertaken a review of historic youth unemployment and training programmes to identify lessons for increasing participation in recognised education and training by 16 and 17 year olds today.
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Evaluation of the Healthy Futures Project
CFE was commissioned by Norfolk Guidance Service (NGS) to provide a summative evaluation of the Healthy Futures project. NGS delivered the Healthy Futures project over a two year period using funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF).
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Using Demand to Shape Supply
CFE was commissioned by The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to undertake an assessment of the higher level skills needs of employers in England. The final report, 'Using demand to shape supply: An assessment of the higher level skills needs of employers in England', draws on the findings of three regional business surveys and a series of focus groups. The report outlines a number of key recommendations for HE providers trying to improve their higher level skills offer to employers.
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The impact of the recession on training
CFE commissioned a poll, carried out by ICM of over 500 businesses looking at whether staff training and development is suffering because of the economic climate.
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The demand for training from businesses in the creative sector in the Thames Gateway
This report commissioned by The Creative Way provides market intelligence on the demand for training from creative industry businesses in the Thames Gateway. The findings are the result of a telephone survey of 500 businesses in the Gateway, supplemented by 15 in-depth follow-up interviews.
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Volunteering in the cultural sector in the East Midlands
CFE was commissioned by Arts Council England, Museums Libraries and Archives Council East Midlands, Renaissance East Midlands and English Heritage to identify the number of organisations benefiting from volunteering and the number of people engaged in volunteering in the arts, museums, libraries, archives, and the wider heritage sectors in the East Midlands.
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Child poverty in the East Midlands - Identifying what works
CFE was commissioned by Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM), East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA), and Intelligence East Midlands (IEM) to identify and present evidence of effective practice and lessons learned in tackling child poverty within the East Midlands.
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Highfields Multi Access Centre Review
CFE was commissioned to undertake a review of the Highfields Multi Access Centre (HMAC) by Leicester City Council. The centre provides general advice including employment and learning support and community development services.
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Beyond Known Unknowns: a further exploration of the demand for higher level skills from businesses
CFE has furthered their Known Unknowns research to explore employers perceptions, attitudes and experiences of higher level skills across the East Midlands through a series of focus groups.
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