- Date and time
- Wed, 24 January 2024
- 14:00 - 16:00 GMT
Watch the Nuffield Foundation, three of the UK’s leading think-tanks, and a panel of policy and business experts discuss the future of work and skills.
The world of work is rapidly changing. There is an urgent imperative to tackle geographical inequalities and disparities in skills, pay, productivity and quality of work. The future of work will remain a priority for policymakers at a local and national level. But how can research help and where should it go next?
The Nuffield Foundation has provided over £6 million in funding to three landmark projects exploring how we move towards a better future for work and skills as a country and in our communities. This event brought all three together alongside a panel discussion.
Event overview
Leading figures from the Resolution Foundation, Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) and National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) presented new findings from their major Nuffield-funded projects.
A panel of policy and business experts from across the country unpacked the research and reflected on what it means for their local areas before we opened to a wider discussion, giving the audience the chance to offer insights and suggestions for new areas of research inquiry.
Some key questions we addressed through the event were:
- What are the implications of automation technologies on work, society, the economy and workers’ well-being?
- Will shifts in how we work affect everyone equally or will it depend on where you live?
- Will they exacerbate existing inequalities, or can they help to close gaps?
- What are the key employment skills that will be required for the labour market of tomorrow?
- Who is most at risk of not acquiring the necessary skills to thrive?
Webinar agenda
- Presentations from 3 pioneering Nuffield-funded projects:
- A dynamic discussion with the project leads – Nobel prize winner Sir Christopher Pissarides, Resolution Foundation’s Research Director James Smith and NFER data specialist Jude Hillary – steered by Tim Gardam, Nuffield Foundation’s Chief Executive, exploring the connections between their key findings, with a forward look at the most pressing research gaps and questions.
- An expert panel to supply regional, local authority and business perspectives, focusing on policy implications and research gaps:
- Professor Juergen Maier, Political Adviser on Industrial Strategy, Northern Powerhouse Partnership
- Kersten England, Former Chief Executive of Bradford Council and Chair of Bradford City of Culture 2025
- Daniel Fell, CEO, Doncaster Chamber of Commerce
- Richard Brooks, Director of Strategy, Equality & Partnerships, Birmingham City Council
- Chaired by Sir Keith Burnett, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Nuffield Foundation
- An interactive discussion where the audience responded to some key questions:
- What is your top priority for new evidence?
- What improvements and innovations in data infrastructure would support your work?
- How can local policy leads and researchers work more effectively together?
The event was hosted by Nuffield Foundation Programme Head Emily Tanner who specialises in Post-14 Education and Skills.
Watch the recording
