Research with Particular Community Groups

Investigation and Benchmarking of Disadvantage in the Labour Market of Yorkshire and Humber, Benchmark Survey and Follow-up Survey Two Years Later. VT Research (now Babcock) was commissioned to investigate issues of disadvantage in the labour market and access to learning and training in Yorkshire and the Humber through two linked ESF co-financed projects. The programme began with an extensive literature review locally, regionally and nationally to establish the key disadvantage factor at play regionally. This was followed by a round of 8 focus groups with residents with one or more of the identified disadvantage factors: ethnic minority communities, disability, lone parents etc. Finally, a quantitative telephone/self-completion survey was conducted with more than 2,100 residents of the region, with quotas for geographic area and demographic factors. Extensive career, education and qualification information was collected, along with exploration of future learning/training aspirations and perceptions of barriers. Analysis was undertaken at a sub-regional level (North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and the Humber), as well as for sub-groups (by Gender, Age, Ethnicity, Disability and Parental Status). A summary of findings was presented to the Research Steering Group after each wave, with recommendations for regional actions to reduce inequality in access to and progression with the labour market of the region. 

VT Research (now Babcock) conducted a research focused upon hard to reach young people in central London. The research was required to inform the Connexions partnership about attitudes to accessing service provision and staffing. A review of existing data and literature was conducted to create firm foundations for this research, and was drawn upon extensively in the final reporting. A wide range of  young people aged 13-19 were consulted via a series of ten focus groups with young people, including both pre-existing meeting sessions and specially convened sessions.

Consultation and Supply and Demand Analysis of Provision for LDD 14-19/25

Evaluation of Equality and Diversity Projects

VT Research (now Babcock) was commissioned by the East of England LSC to evaluate a range of LSC supported Equality and Diversity projects from across the region. Desk research was undertaken for a literature review to provide a baseline of best practice for the project. We then conducted detailed secondary analysis of project documentation and management information to assess quantitative and qualitative outcomes. Stakeholder and provider consultations were undertaken, and focus groups with learners are currently being conducted to obtain breadth and depth of evidence for the evaluation. A report including the findings of the project evaluation and with recommendations for embedding successful strategies and partnerships beyond 2009/10 has been published via LSIS’s Excellence Gateway.

Equalities in the Labour Market – East Midlands

VT Research (now Babcock) undertook this large and complex research project on behalf of the five local LSCs in the East Midlands. The local LLSCs were keen to investigate the causes and effects of discrimination in the Labour Market – from school to training and employment of three target groups – older people, people from ethnic minority communities and people with disabilities. Secondary and primary research was involved as well as the interrogation of the national LSC databases containing millions of records. The national and local literature review and best practice elements of the research centred on policy and the location of successful intermediate labour market projects. Secondary research also involved the examination of school achievement and retention data and careers destination data by school, LEA and region.  A large SPSS data analysis operation was also being undertaken on the LSC’s two main learner databases.

The initial primary (qualitative) research design was informed by the literature collated so far and through our in-depth knowledge of labour markets.  Focus groups were run across the region geographically ensuring an urban/rural mix, with each target group fairly spread across the research locations. The focus group work, in turn, informed the design of the quantitative survey. This telephone survey of more than 2,000 East Midlands’ residents was undertaken by our in-house telephone unit. The results were tested and further investigated through a further, comprehensive round of discussion groups (15, with a clearly defined sampling matrix controlling for location an target group), stratified by target group and location. The final output was a set of reports relating to each separate component of the research programme, with sub analysis by county and target group, and an over-arching thematic report with evidence based recommendations for the reduction of inequalities and barriers to learning and access to employment.