Learning and Work Institute
Learning and Work Institute is an independent UK policy and research charity that conducts statistical analysis, evaluation, and policy advice on lifelong learning, skills, and employment, serving government departments, devolved administrations, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, and charitable foundations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1918
- HeadquartersLeicester, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Learning and Work Institute does
Learning and Work Institute is an independent UK policy and research organisation focused on lifelong learning and employment. Registered as a charity (no. 1002775) and company limited by guarantee (no. 2603322), headquartered in Leicester, it was formed in 2017 through the merger of the National Learning and Work Institute and the Centre for Learning and Work Research, with institutional roots traceable to 1918. Its work centres on statistical analysis, programme evaluation, and policy advice across adult learning, essential skills, apprenticeships and technical education, youth employment, and the health-and-employment intersection.
The organisation operates a portfolio of interconnected programmes rather than a single software product. Core research assets include the Adult Participation in Learning Survey (running since 1996) and the Labour Market Dashboard, an interactive monthly analysis of ONS labour market statistics. Operational programmes include the DWP-commissioned Labour Market Evidence Programme (delivered with the Institute for Employment Studies), the JobsPlus community-led employment support pilot (co-funded with Youth Futures Foundation and active across England), the VocTech Challenge, and the Connect to Work policy support initiative. Flagship convening assets include the annual Employment and Skills Convention and the Essential Skills Summit, alongside the Get the Nation Learning public campaign.
Revenue is generated through commissioned research and evaluation for UK government departments (DWP, DfE, Ministry of Defence), devolved administrations (Welsh Government, partners in Scotland), Mayoral Strategic Authorities (Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Greater London Authority), and charitable foundations (Nuffield, Health Foundation, Youth Futures Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Robertson Trust, Gatsby, ESRC, Ufi VocTech Trust, among others), supplemented by event sponsorships, attendance fees, and supporter network engagement. Customer outreach is concentrated among policymakers, practitioners, and the employment and skills sector rather than commercial end-markets.
Learning and Work Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Learning and Work Institute
- Legal name
- Learning and Work Institute
- Website
- https://learningandwork.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1918
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Learning and Work Institute is an independent UK policy and research charity that conducts statistical analysis, evaluation, and policy advice on lifelong learning, skills, and employment, serving government departments, devolved administrations, Mayoral Strategic Authorities, and charitable foundations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Learning and Work Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Policy Research and Skills/Employment Analysis
- NAICS
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs (BPACANAK), Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI), Senior Workforce Transition & Encore Career Learning (Post-retirement work) (EDAAAMAE)
Keywords
Where Learning and Work Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leicester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Learning and Work Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Research and Evaluation Services: The organisation conducts research, analysis, and evaluation for government departments, foundations, and strategic partners. This includes policy research, programme evaluation, and evidence reviews.
- Events and Conferences: The organisation generates revenue through sponsorships and attendance fees for events such as the Employment and Skills Convention, Essential Skills Summit, and other professional development events.
- Campaign Activities: Support for campaigns such as Get the Nation Learning through partnerships and supporter networks.
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Learning and Work Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Learning and Work Institute is an independent policy and research organisation that conducts statistical analysis, policy research, programme evaluation, and pilot delivery focused on lifelong learning, skills, and employment. It produces long-running survey series, labour-market dashboards, commissioned research reports for government and charitable foundations, and convenes the sector through flagship events.
Product overview
Learning and Work Institute operates as a unified policy and research organisation offering a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a single software product. The core offering consists of research and analysis on employment, skills, and lifelong learning (including the Adult Participation in Learning Survey and Labour Market Dashboard), combined with evaluation and policy development capabilities. These are delivered alongside campaigns (Get the Nation Learning), events (Employment and Skills Convention), and place-based pilots such as JobsPlus. The Labour Market Evidence Programme represents a major research partnership with DWP and IES, while VocTech Challenge and Connect to Work support represent targeted policy implementation initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Employment and Skills Convention: A major annual event bringing together the employment and skills sectors to tackle key issues in policy and practice.
- Get the Nation Learning
- JobsPlus
Products and services
- Learning and Work Data Analysis
- Labour Market Dashboard
- Adult Participation in Learning Survey
- JobsPlus
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 270 people moved into work through JobsPlus programme since July 2024
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Learning and Work Institute
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Learning and Work Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Learning and Work Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
34 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Age UKminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work in recent years
- Blagrave TrustminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work in recent years
- Central London ForwardcorePartnership on youth employment trailblazer evaluation and Youth Guarantee Trailblazer (Full Potential programme)
- Centre For Ageing BetterminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work in recent years
- Centre for Progressive PolicyminorListed as a main funder and potential strategic partner
- City & GuildsminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- Clarion FuturesminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- Department for EducationcoreKey government department commissioning research on adult learning and skills
- Department for Work and PensionscoreKey government department co-funding JobsPlus pilot and Labour Market Evidence Programme
- GenerationminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- Greater London AuthoritycorePartnership on employment and skills policy, Adult Learning Awards, and youth employment initiatives
- Greater Manchester Combined AuthoritycorePartnership on employment and skills devolution and policy development
- Local Government AssociationcorePartnership working with local government on employment and skills policy
- Maximus UKminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- MedrcoreWelsh further education body working in partnership on skills and employment policy in Wales
- Ministry Of DefenceminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- Morley College LimitedminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- National Open College NetworkminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- Open UniversityminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- Phoenix GroupminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- S.E. Strategic Partnership For MigrationminorPartnership researching ESOL provision for 16-19-year-olds across the South East
- Serco LimitedminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- The Edge FoundationminorListed as a main funder of Learning and Work Institute's work
- Welsh GovernmentcoreDevolved government partnership on employment and skills policy work in Wales
- West Midlands Combined AuthoritycorePartnership on Adult Learning Awards and employment and skills policy development
- Institute for Employment Studies (IES)corePartner in Labour Market Evidence Programme and co-evaluator of JobsPlus pilot
- Communities that WorkcoreSupporting delivery of JobsPlus pilots across England
- MDRCcoreUS-based research organisation providing expertise on JobsPlus model adapted from US pilots; additional support partner
- The Carers FederationminorPartner with funding from National Lottery Community Fund for Driving Change in Higher Education programme
- Edinburgh CollegeminorPartner with Robertson Trust funding for low-income worker progression programme in Scotland
- Shaw TrustminorFunding and designing innovation trial for young Londoners with health conditions, with L&W evaluating
- West London AllianceminorPartnership launching innovation trial for young Londoners with health conditions
- Cumbria Youth AllianceminorPartner in health and employment webinar series under Labour Market Evidence Programme
- Disability InsightminorPartner in health and employment webinar series under Labour Market Evidence Programme
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Learning and Work Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Centre for Cities: Independent UK think tank producing data-driven research on urban economies, skills, and labour markets. Comparable to L&W in delivering policy research and analysis for mayors, combined authorities, and central government.
- New Economics Foundation (NEF): Independent UK think tank combining economics, social research, and policy advocacy on work, wellbeing, and inequality. Similar independent, mission-driven research model with mixed grant and contract funding.
- National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR): Long-standing UK economic and social research institute producing labour market analysis and policy evaluation. NIESR's social-science research methodology and government/funder mix closely mirrors L&W's operating model.
- Centre for Progressive Policy: UK think tank focused on inclusive growth, skills, and productivity at the regional and national level. Listed as a partner of L&W and operates as a comparable independent policy research organisation serving similar audiences.
- Institute for Employment Studies (IES): UK-based independent research institute focused on employment, labour markets, and skills policy. IES is L&W's co-delivery partner on the DWP Labour Market Evidence Programme, making it the closest operational peer in mission and customer base.
- Policy Studies Institute (PSI): UK social policy research institute producing evidence on work, welfare, and education. Comparable to L&W in conducting commissioned evaluations, social-science research, and policy-facing analysis for government and foundations.
Broad incumbents
- Resolution Foundation: UK think tank focused on living standards, jobs, and low- to middle-income workers. Overlaps with L&W on labour market evidence, in-work progression, and adult skills, and shares similar funding sources (Nuffield, etc.).
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation: UK poverty and social policy research foundation. Comparable in its research-and-evidence model and overlaps with L&W on disadvantage, employment support, and adult learning for low-income groups.
- IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research): One of the UK's largest progressive think tanks covering jobs, skills, and public services. Larger and broader in scope than L&W but competes for the same government, foundation, and media attention in employment and skills policy.
Others
- City & Guilds: Major UK vocational qualifications and skills body. Listed as a partner of L&W and operates in the adjacent skills and apprenticeship space, providing credentialing infrastructure that L&W's research and policy work complements.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Learning and Work Institute social profiles
Digital presenceLearning and Work Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Learning and Work Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Learning and Work Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Learning and Work Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Learning and Work Institute
What does Learning and Work Institute do?
Learning and Work Institute is an independent policy and research organisation that conducts statistical analysis, policy research, programme evaluation, and pilot delivery focused on lifelong learning, skills, and employment. It produces long-running survey series, labour-market dashboards, commissioned research reports for government and charitable foundations, and convenes the sector through flagship events.
Is Learning and Work Institute a public or private company?
Learning and Work Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Learning and Work Institute founded?
Learning and Work Institute was founded in 1918. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Learning and Work Institute based?
Learning and Work Institute is headquartered in Leicester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Learning and Work Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research and Evaluation Services are the primary driver. The others are events and Conferences and campaign Activities.
Who are Learning and Work Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Centre for Cities, New Economics Foundation (NEF), National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), Centre for Progressive Policy, Institute for Employment Studies (IES) and Policy Studies Institute (PSI). Broad incumbents are Resolution Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and IPPR (Institute for Public Policy Research). City & Guilds is listed as an others.
Does Learning and Work Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Learning and Work Institute.
What industry is Learning and Work Institute in?
Learning and Work Institute's product category is Policy Research and Skills/Employment Analysis. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDADADAA, Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks, with a secondary code of BPACANAK, Apprenticeships, Internships & Work-Based Learning Programs. Its NAICS code is 54172 and its SIC code is 8200.