Our Knowledge and Expertise

Adult and Workplace Learning

We have a long track record for post-19 research and evaluation with funding and regulatory bodies and vocational education and training policy groupings including the LSC National Office, LSIS, Regional Development Agencies, sectoral and other national bodies. This is a highly diverse area of provision and one which has assumed growing importance to policy makers with commitments to raising aspiration and attainment in adults, lifelong learning, reducing social exclusion through educational opportunities and enhancing economic competitiveness through the national skills base – particularly at and up to intermediate level. HOST research and evaluation has made many contributions to these developments for learner groups, provision and programme as diverse as:

  • Adults re-entering the workforce.
  • Skills change, qualifications and skill utilisation.
  • Employee rehabilitation and disability.
  • Literacy, numeracy and ESOL provision for adults (SfL).
  • In-firm employee development and learning workforces.
  • Re-skilling and re-employment programmes for employees of restructuring firms.
  • Widening access for adults and pre-higher education programmes.
  • Adult educational choices and information, advice and guidance services.
  • Vocational education for offenders in custody and in the community.

The following illustrates the range of projects we have undertaken in the last four years which demonstrates a range of knowledge and experience in the area of adult and workplace learning:

  • National Review of Employer Co-funding and Investment in Publicly-funded Post-compulsory Education and Training (DfES, 2006).
  • Research to model a new system for the National Apprenticeship certification process (National LSC 2008).
  • National Review of Skills for Life Capacity Development in England (ABSSU/DfES, 2006).
  • Evaluation of the National Skills Programme and Skills Foresight (SSDA, 2008).
  • Evaluation of the Support for Excellence Programme (including PRD Groups) (QIA/LSIS ongoing, 2007-2009).
  • Evaluation of the Vocational Qualification Reform Support Programme (QCA/QIA/LSIS, 2008 ongoing).

HOST is currently involved with LSIS, the LSC and QCA among others in reviewing provider readiness and capacity building in the transition from the National Qualifications Framework to the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).