Get Britain Working White Paper full of good intentions – but ‘youth guarantee’ needs to be cast-iron 26 November 2024 Today’s ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper should nudge Britain closer to the Government’s stretching 80 per cent employment target. But to really make a difference, the Government will need to properly resource its ‘youth guarantee’ and get benefit reforms right – a challenge that has been left for another day. The Foundation says setting Britain … Continued READ MORE
Ventures October WorkerTech Roundup The latest update from Resolution Ventures 30 October 2024 by Aish Moothan This month’s newsletter brings you a world-first. We’ve been working with our friends at Bethnal Green Ventures to create the first market map of WorkerTech innovation in the UK. The State of WorkerTech in the UK report is an in-depth reflection of the social investment activity in the space and a taxonomy of the ventures … Continued READ MORE
Ventures The State of WorkerTech in 2024 – Report by Bethnal Green Ventures in collaboration with Resolution Ventures 28 October 2024 by Aish Moothan Resolution Ventures made its maiden WorkerTech investment in 2019, on what then was the start of much-needed innovation in the world of work. The following year, we created the WorkerTech Partnership, the UK’s first programme of social investment directed towards improving the lives of those in low-paid and precarious jobs. At the center of the … Continued READ MORE
The Government doubles down on the UK’s superpower in services 14 October 2024 by Greg Thwaites The Government has provided the outlines of its new industrial strategy in a Green Paper released today. The strategy largely doubles down on the UK’s established role as a global services leader. This is welcome, and not just because I counted eleven references to RF work and our Economy 2030 Inquiry, although that was nice. … Continued READ MORE
A landmark moment for employment policy – but important details still to be decided 11 October 2024 by Nye Cominetti Yesterday the Government published its keenly awaited Employment Bill, meeting its promise to publish within its first 100 days – no mean feat given the Bill itself extends to 168 pages and over 53,000 words. In advance of its publication, there were many questions about the detail and implementation of the Government’s reforms. So, how … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech Roundup – September 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 30 September 2024 by Aish Moothan I’m Aish, Resolution Ventures’ Ventures Manager and the new author of this monthly newsletter. Here in the UK, nothing says Autumn quite like unpredictable weather, train cancellations and party conferences. As headlines from respective political talks begin to appear in the news cycle, we’re keeping an eye out for announcements and legislation to do with … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech Newsletter – August 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 6 September 2024 by Louise Marston In August, we were delighted to welcome Aish Moothan, our new Ventures Manager, to the Resolution Ventures team. You’ll be hearing more from her in future months. We are also celebrating the first exit from the Workertech portfolio, as Breakroom have been acquired by U.S. company ZipRecruiter. More on that below, along with some great … Continued READ MORE
Low pay· Living Wage A one-year holding policy on the minimum wage signals a shift of focus to employment rights 30 July 2024 by Nye Cominetti Today the Government published a new remit for the Low Pay Commission (LPC). The LPC are the independent body who recommend specific minimum wage rates to the Government – including the National Living Wage (NLW) which applies to workers aged 21 and over, and the age-specific rates for younger workers. But they make these recommendations … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech Newsletter – July 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 29 July 2024 by Louise Marston We’re now a whole [counts on fingers] 25 days into the new Government in the UK, and there has been a flurry of announcements being broadcast from Westminster (as well as Leeds and Barnsley). So this month’s newsletter explores what we’ve heard so far – and what might come next. If you’re working on a tech-for-good … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech Newsletter – June 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 28 June 2024 by Louise Marston The Resolution Foundation team has been very hard at work in recent weeks preparing a series of excellent pre-election briefings ahead of the general election on the 4th July – see below for some examples. But what might this election mean for the future of work? The team have helpfully summarised the key issues, … Continued READ MORE
General Election 2024· Living Wage How to weigh up minimum wage manifesto promises Money talks but the bite is what matters 31 May 2024 by Gavin Kelly and Nye Cominetti and Hannah Slaughter While the principle of there being a minimum wage is, happily, no longer a matter of ideological contention in British politics, its future level is likely to remain a key labour market question in the general election campaign. It matters. First and foremost for the 1.6 million workers who directly rely on it (as well … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech newsletter: May 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 31 May 2024 by Louise Marston I am bringing you this month’s newsletter, as Emma Selinger has now left the Resolution Ventures team and has headed off to join the brilliant folks at Fair4All Finance. We wish her well! We’re also heading into a General Election, which means my colleagues at the Resolution Foundation are working hard to bring you lots … Continued READ MORE
We can easily end child poverty in the UK. Here are five things to know Progress can be made. We must not let stubbornly high rates turn us into fatalists 20 May 2024 by Torsten Bell What is the case for tackling child poverty? Can we make a dent in it? How? These questions have not been at the centre of British politics for the past 14 years, and the extent to which they will return to it under a Labour government remains to be seen. But they should. Here are five … Continued READ MORE
Labour market· Pay The labour market is generating fewer jobs, but paying better for those who have one 14 May 2024 by Greg Thwaites Today’s labour market data paint a picture of a labour market that is generating fewer jobs, but paying better for those who do have one. This picture is hazy, however, because the data are themselves increasingly uncertain. The employment rate is falling The 16-64 employment rate in the ONS’s Labour Force Survey (LFS) was unchanged … Continued READ MORE
Brexit & trade Britain needs to acknowledge rather than deny its weaknesses in goods trade, and leverage its strength in services 13 May 2024 by Emily Fry The UK economy swiftly exited its recession in the first quarter of 2024 thanks in part to an improving trade balance. This is good news – but an improving trade balance is not the same as a successful trade performance. Indeed, GDP was boosted despite the UK’s total trade with the rest of the world … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech newsletter: April 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 30 April 2024 by Emma Selinger This week I’m excited to share a new addition to our portfolio. Planna is a temporary workforce management tool making seasonal work better quality and more predictable. I also wanted to let you know that this will be my last newsletter for Resolution Ventures as I am moving on to a new role. It has been a … Continued READ MORE
Labour market The jobs market recovery stalls 16 April 2024 by Greg Thwaites Today’s labour market data from the ONS suggest that both labour demand and labour supply are heading South. The only silver lining is that, for those that do have a job, real pay has been rising fast. Labour supply is falling fast Economic inactivity rate has risen to its highest rate since 2015 among those … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech newsletter: March 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 3 April 2024 by Emma Selinger This month we have two funding opportunities to share with WorkerTech founders. In February, I told you about the GLA’s No Wrong Door Open Innovation Challenge which is still open for applications until 18th April. Today we’re also opening applications for the WorkerTech Pre-Investment Programme, a programme of grants and mentoring for early-stage WorkerTech founders. More … Continued READ MORE
Universal Credit· Incomes· Inequality & poverty Five takeaways from new living standards data 22 March 2024 by Adam Corlett and Lalitha Try The annual release of DWP’s Households Below Average Income (HBAI) figures is far less timely than other economic indicators and, as it is based on survey data, it is noisy. Yet, together with the ONS’s separate income survey data (expected later in Spring), it provides key insights into how living standards have changed for different … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances Austerity doesn’t just damage public services, it destroys faith in the future Britain can’t afford the tax cuts announced in the budget 17 March 2024 by Torsten Bell As the dust settles on the budget, it’s time to reflect on the real task facing anyone trying to govern Britain. The tax cuts announced are paid for with big spending cuts to come: unprotected departments (like councils and prisons) face 13% (£19bn) cuts by 2028-29. Most people think delivering them is impossible, because they’ve seen the … Continued READ MORE
Ventures WorkerTech newsletter: February 2024 The latest update from Resolution Ventures 5 March 2024 by Emma Selinger This month I’m excited to tell you about a new initiative that we’re working on in partnership with the Greater London Authority and Allia.The No Wrong Door Open Innovation Challenge will support 15 innovators to test and build new solutions to support diverse groups into good quality work in London. If you’d like to know more, … Continued READ MORE
Household debt Consumer debt in the UK is down 10%. The bad news? Utility bill arrears are up Britons have been borrowing less since Covid, but people on lower incomes are falling behind on the rent 3 March 2024 by Torsten Bell It’s important to worry about the right things. Interest rates are up, sparking worries about our debts – in my case, the mortgage. Consumer debt (credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans) is surging, we’re told. But the truth is, consumer debt levels are down. New Resolution Foundation research shows them at their lowest since at least … Continued READ MORE
Brexit & trade Britain’s post-Brexit trade patterns are finally emerging in the data 28 February 2024 by Emily Fry The impact of Brexit on trade in the first two years after leaving the EU was complicated by global events: first the pandemic, and then the spike in energy prices. This means the 2023 data – the third year of trade post-Brexit – is the first real opportunity to see what’s going on. At first … Continued READ MORE
Budgets & fiscal events· Public spending Cutting back on the investment and delivery of public services is not what the economy needs – or what the electorate wants 27 February 2024 by James Smith and Tara Goatley The Government’s current plans for post-election cuts to public spending look undeliverable given rising prices and increasing demand on services. As discussed below, plans to cap day-to-day spending increases at 1 per cent (after allowing for inflation) imply very big cuts to departments not covered by existing spending commitments. This is particularly worrying given pre-existing … Continued READ MORE
Labour market enforcement· Labour market Government names and shames 500 firms for illegally under-paying staff – but will it dissuade others from flouting the law? 20 February 2024 by Hannah Slaughter Today the Department for Business and Trade published a list of more than 500 employers who have underpaid the minimum wage, in the latest ‘naming round’ that publicises firms that break the law. Among the list are household names such as Greggs, easyJet, Hamleys and River Island, as well as smaller local businesses from across … Continued READ MORE
