Conference on the Inclusive Labour Market

Both Staffordshire University and ERSA have been exploring models of labour market policy which are inclusive and democratic.

Both Staffordshire University and the Employment Related Services Association(ERSA) have been exploring models of labour market policy which are inclusive and democratic. The Job Retention(JR) rotation model promoted by the Danish Government and trade unions has had a great deal of success in engaging unemployed/disadvantaged groups with employment and at the same time providing unskilled workers opportunities to participate in vocational training. This model has been mainstreamed in some European countries, promoted by the European Union, and successfully piloted in Scotland by the Workers Education Association. An essential ingredient of the JR model is the role of social dialogue and the bringing together of relevant labour market partners, including trade unions and worker representatives. For more information on the Danish approach see

https://ersa.org.uk/news/policy-briefing-job-guarantee-and-rotation-a-way-towards-an-inclusive-labour-market/

The main aim of the Conference is to focus on solutions to poverty and inequality by considering the possibilities of initially piloting such an initiative in the UK, possibly in the Stoke/North Staffordshire area. Previous reports by Staffordshire have drawn attention to deep seated in-work and out of work poverty (see https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/7621/ ) where a large proportion of working age adults are either excluded from the labour market or in low paid/skills employment. A key focus is also to assess how trade unions/civil society organisations can play a greater role, along with other stakeholders within the UK employment and skills system.

Programme

9.30 - 9.45 Registration and coffee/drinks

9.45 - 10.00 Welcome and introduction Prof Martin Jones, Staffordshire University

Martin is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University, whilst remaining active as a researcher in the economic and political geographies of city-regions and economic development.

10.00 - 10.30 Job retention/rotation and social dialogue: Lessons from Denmark Prof David Etherington, Staffordshire University

David is Professor of Local and Regional Economic Development at Staffordshire University. His research focuses on the political economy of welfare reform and employment relations in the UK and Nordic countries. He has been involved for a number of years researching the Danish labour market and welfare model. He has led the University’s research on poverty in Stoke-on-Trent in collaboration with Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent involving a series of reports, the most recent analysing the impact of austerity on poverty in Stoke on Trent https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/7621/

10.30 - 11.00 What should future employment support look like? What are the current directions in Labour’s proposals for young people and people with disabilities? Jill Rutter, Head of Policy, Learning and Work Institute.

Jill’s role is to lead the organisation’s programme of research into work and on social security and make sure the L&W’s research reaches and informs policy makers. Jill has previously worked for the immigration and integration thinktank British Future, and she remains an associate fellow. Jill has also worked at the Institute for Public Policy Research, the Refugee Council, the Family and Childcare Trust, as a university lecturer and for the funder spirit of 2012. She is an international expert on integration of migrants and refugees and has produced papers and reports on this theme including The Final Report of the National Conversation on immigration (British Future and Hope not hate,2018).

11.00 - 11.30 What role for Employers? Dr Katy Jones, Manchester Metropolitan University

Katy is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at MMU. She has previously held research positions at the Work Foundation and the University of Salford. Her research focuses on support for people to move into and progress in work, mainly in relation to active labour market policy and vocational education, and with a particular focus on those disadvantaged in the labour market. Katy has been involved with a research project Universal Credit and Employers: exploring the demand side of UK active labour market policy funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. This research explores employer view of Active Labour Market Policy and the requirements that underpin Universal Credit for people who are unemployed and workers on a low income. It also considers how employment services such as Jobcentre Plus and other providers can work more effectively with employers, leading to better outcomes for individuals in the wider economy.

11.30 - 12.00 Coffee break and networking

12.00 - 12.30 Trade unions as advocates for unemployed people Mathew Pointon, West Midlands Regional TUC

Matt has been involved in promoting skills policy within the TUC and member trade unions. He has played a key role in the TUC-West Midlands Combined Authority Skills Partnership, the pioneering initiative between the union movement and the West Midlands Combined Authority has recently been looking beyond the ordinary and getting out into the community to talk to ordinary working people about the benefits of being in a trade union and continuing learning throughout one’s adult life. Matt is also the West Midlands Chair of the Workers Education Association (WEA), the largest adult education charity in England and Scotland.

12.30 – 13.00 What works in supporting disadvantaged groups? Simon Harris Citizens Advice Staffordshire North and Stoke-on-Trent

Simon is Chief Executive of CASNS and has been heavily involved in developing the organisation’s response to the Covid and cost of living crisis. Locally the CA mission is to “empower those who experience poverty and inequality to improve their lives and equally let society know the effect of poverty and inequality on people and to convince policy makers to take action.” Simon and his colleague Sam Hubbard have been collaborating with the University on a series of projects exposing and highlighting the impact of poverty on people in Stoke-on-Trent.

13.00 - 13.45 Lunch

13.45 - 14.15 Supporting Loan Parents Alexandra Jones, Gingerbread

Alexandra is Policy Manager at Gingerbread, a campaigning and advocacy organisation for lone parents. Alexandra is an experienced policy professional and former Politics and Sociology teacher with an MSSc in Gender, Intersectionality and Social Change. Alexandra will focus on the key findings and recommendations from the recent research Single Parent Employment Challenge report The Single Parent Employment Challenge project explored single parents’ experiences of the UK labour market, as we emerged from pandemic restrictions from mid-2021. Focusing on those single parents who experienced unemployment during the pandemic, it looked at the routes that led to them becoming unemployed and to re-enter the workforce, their attitudes to and experiences of job-seeking and back-to-work support, the interaction of work plans and childcare, and the implications of the emerging cost of living crisis.

14.15 – 15.45 Plenary and Panel discussion chaired by Elizabeth Taylor, along with Martin Jones and Jagdeep Soor (with working tea break during this session).

The Panel

Elizabeth Taylor was appointed Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) CEO in November 2019 with a background rooted in the employment support provider sector. ERSA represents the employment support sector, which helps jobseekers find worthwhile jobs and achieve sustainable careers. ERSA’s 300 members span the private, public and voluntary sectors, from multi-national businesses to charities and community enterprises. Her first sector job in 1983 was as a business advisor, to which she added employment advice, and then delivery of training, before moving into managing contracts in 1989. Up to 2019 she managed the delivery of employment support, enterprise support (including social enterprise) and training programmes, delivered with 23 different funding streams.

Professor Martin Jones took on the role of Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University on January 1, 2022. Author or editor of 13 books, Professor Jones is highly regarded internationally for economic and political geography. His latest book Cities and Regions in Crisis: The Political Economy of Sub-National Economic Development was awarded the Regional Studies Association Best Book award 2021. He has also given evidence to UK Government Select Committees on skills, business support, and regional development. Martin is an Executive Board Member of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Jagdeep Soor is Head of Strategic Partnerships leading our work to promote equality, diversity, inclusion, equity and social mobility for marginalised groups, through the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance and The Apprenticeship Diversity & Social Mobility Forum. He joined the organisation in July 2022, having worked in the employment and skills sectors for over 25 years. He has procured, mobilised and operationally managed multi-million-pound mainstream contracts across Great Britain & Northern Ireland.