The Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has launched the Commission on the Future of Employment Support to develop evidence-led proposals for reform of our system of employment support and services, so that it can better meet the needs of individuals, employers and our economy.
The Commission is defining employment support as those public or publicly-funded services that:
■ Help people who want to move into work, stay in work or progress in work to do so – regardless of what (if any) benefits they are on, and where and how those services are delivered; and
■ Help employers to find, recruit and retain the right people for their jobs.
The Commission will be looking at how employment support is organised at a UK level, within UK nations and locally; the role and function of Jobcentre Plus and of wider contracted or commissioned support; and how employment is supported in wider public services like education, skills and health.
They’re keen to hear from you, on your views on what is working well, what can be improved and what we can learn from in order to reform employment support in the future. You can share your views through their Call for Evidence, any time before Monday 30th January 2023.
The Call for Evidence is available at this link: www.bit.ly/call-for-evidence
The Commission was launched on Thursday 10 November. The launch report and accompanying evidence paper are available at the following links:
You can also send them your views, as well as any supporting data, research evidence, practical examples or experiences, by email to commission@employment-studies.co.uk.
If you are visually impaired and would prefer to contribute to this Call for Evidence in a telephone consultation with one of the research team, you can also email them at the same address: commission@employment-studies.co.uk.
Over the coming six months they will be running a series of hearings and events as well as carrying out further research and analysis. Again, they’re keen to work with anyone who has an interest in employment support and services to make sure that the Commission can take account of different perspectives and can develop proposals that can build consensus on future reform. Again if you would like to be involved then please email them at commission@employent-studies.co.uk. They expect that the work of the Commission will conclude in early 2024.