Systems challenge

The youth unemployment and inactivity challenge is stubborn and there is limited the knowledge, understanding and application of evidence needed to inform and guide meaningful systems change for young people.

Our aim

To analyse the existing evidence base and bring the best global evidence together in one accessible place, while also generating new evidence through robust testing of support interventions for young people.

What we do

Our team of researchers, economists and evaluation experts work with the sector, academics and other evidence professionals to:

Analyse the youth employment landscape

We continuously build insight into what is happening to young people and why through data, research and analysis work that helps employers, policy makers, delivery organisations and others have a much better understanding of the problem that needs addressing.

Create new high-quality evidence

We identify gaps in understanding and design and fund robust evaluations of promising support programmes to generate evidence that can better inform future systems change in policy and practice for marginalised young people.

Synthesise and translate insights

We draw on the best global research and evaluation work undertaken to date, bringing it together into evidence translation resources like our Youth Employment Toolkit and Data Dashboard to support policy makers, employers and practitioners to make better decisions in real time to support young people.

Latest resources

Youth Employment 2024 Outlook

Bringing together the latest data and evidence on the youth employment landscape to inform effective action.

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Useful tools

Ourinteractive online tools are designed to help you access and make use of the latest youth employment data and research.

Youth Employment Toolkit

Summarising evidence on effective youth employment interventions.

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Data Dashboard

The latest youth labour market data and our latest research.

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Youth employment system map

Interactive map of the youth employment system in England.

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Evidence and gap map

The world's largest interactive map of effective youth interventions.

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Meet our current research partners

TONIC

What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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TONIC
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

TONIC is social research organisation, with extensive experience in criminal justice, public health and social inequalities.

Working with Youth Futures

Currently, TONIC is one of the evaluation partners for INCLUDE. The evaluation is part of our What Works: testing youth employment interventions programme.

TONIC is leading stakeholder engagement activities within the Criminal Justice system to addresses the gap in support within the sector.

Dartington Service Design Lab

What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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Dartington Service Design Lab
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

Dartington Service Design Lab is a research charity.

Working with Youth Futures

Currently, Dartignton Service Design Lab is one of the evaluation partners for INCLUDE. The evaluation is part of our What Works: testing youth employment interventions programme.

The charity is leading the co-design of the INCLUDE intervention and test-and-adapt delivery cycles, as well as supporting delivery partner PLIAS Resettlement to reflect on learnings and implement practice change between cycles.

Learning and Work Institute

Evidence and Research on Youth Employment  · 

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Learning and Work Institute
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment

Location

Evaluators

StatusPast

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About

Learning and Work Institute is an independent policy and research organisation focused on lifelong learning and better work.

RAND Europe

Evidence and Research on Youth Employment, What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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RAND Europe
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment, What Works: testing youth employment interventions

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

RAND Europe is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation whose mission is to help improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis.

Working with Youth Futures

RAND Europe collaborates with us on research and evaluation activity.

Currently, this includes working as the lead evaluation partner for the INCLUDE impact evaluation, part of our What Works: testing youth employment interventions programme.

Monash University

Evidence and Research on Youth Employment  · 

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Monash University
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment

Location

Evaluators

StatusPast

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About

Monash University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.  

Centre for Evidence and Implementation

Evidence and Research on Youth Employment, Evidence into Action  · 

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Centre for Evidence and Implementation
Learning partner, Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment, Evidence into Action

Location

Evaluators

StatusPast

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About

CEI is a global, not-for-profit evidence intermediary dedicated to using the best evidence to improve the lives of children, families, and communities facing adversity. CEI’s staff of over 50 researchers and implementation specialists work with what works centres, programme teams, organisational leaders, practitioners and policymakers to  evaluate programmes, build capacity and support the effective implementation of evidence at scale

Working with Youth Futures

As Practice Development and Implementation Partner for Evidence into Action, CEI’s primary role is to synthesise and translate current evidence available on On/Off the job training and support delivery partners to apply evidence into existing or pilot programmes and embed and sustain evidence-based practice approaches.

CEI also partners with us on research.

Institute for Employment Studies (IES)

What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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Institute for Employment Studies (IES)
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

IES is a leading independent centre for research and evidence-based consultancy in the UK. It specialises in employment, labour market and human resource policy and practice.

Its mission is to help bring about sustainable improvements in employment policy and human resource management by increasing the understanding and improving the practice of key decision makers in policy bodies and employing organisations.

New Philanthropy Capital

Building Futures  · 

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New Philanthropy Capital
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeBuilding Futures

Location

Evaluators

StatusPast

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About

NPC is the think tank and consultancy for the impact sector. Its mission is to help charities, foundations, philanthropists, impact investors, social enterprises, businesses, and the public sector to maximise social impact in the lives of the people they serve. It supports individuals and organisations, challenges and inspires the sector, and help to create the conditions for impact.

Ipsos

Building Futures  · 

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Ipsos
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeBuilding Futures

Location

Evaluators

StatusPast

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About

Global market research and public opionion specialist firm Ipsos provide data and understanding Society, Markets and People.

National Centre for Social Research

 · 

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National Centre for Social Research
Research & evaluation partner

Programme

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

NatCen is Britain’s largest independent not-for-profit social research organisation, working collaboratively to generate evidence that uncovers the reality of people’s lives in the UK.

Behavioural Insights Team

Building Futures  · 

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Behavioural Insights Team
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeBuilding Futures

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

A global research and innovation consultancy which uses deep understanding of human behaviour to improve people’s lives.

Working with Youth Futures

We are working in partnership with the Behavioural Insights Team to conduct an evaluation of the demonstrator phase of our Building Futures programme.

Youth Endowment Fund

What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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Youth Endowment Fund
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions

Location

Evaluators

StatusActive

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About

The Youth Endowment Fund was established in March 2019 by children’s charity Impetus, with a £200m endowment and ten year mandate from the Home Office.

Its mission is to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.

It is part of the What Works Network, an initiative to improve the way government and other public sector organisations create, share and use high quality evidence in decision-making.

Cordis Bright

Inspiring Futures, What Works: testing youth employment interventions  · 

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Cordis Bright
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeInspiring Futures, What Works: testing youth employment interventions

Location

Evaluators

StatusPast

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About

Cordis Bright provides research, evaluation, advice and consultancy aimed at improving public services.

Working with Youth Futures

Cordis Bright have collaborated as evaluation partners on our Inspiring Futures and What Works programmes.

Latest opportunities

Job roles
Employer Engagement & Partnerships Apprentice

This is a new role to work across two busy Directorates with comprehensive day to day team administration and support.  

Closing date: 10/10/2025
Job roles
Team Coordinator - Programme & Grants

The role reports to the Grants Operations Manager, providing administrative and business support to the Programmes and Grants Directorate.

Closing date: 28/09/2025
Job roles
Head of Legal

The role of Head of Legal reports to the Director of Legal & Governance and you will assist them in ensuring the legal function of the organisation runs efficiently, smoothly and that we proactively identify and address legal risk and development needs.

Closing date: 21/09/2025
Job roles
Grants & Evaluation Committee members

Our Grants and Evaluation Committee is one of three specialist committees that support the Youth Futures Board in discharging its responsibilities.

Closing date: 03/09/2025
Job roles
Principal Economist

The Principal Economist is based in our Impact and Evidence team and supports our work to improve understanding of youth unemployment in England, so that we can make a positive impact on outcomes for young people.

Closing date: 04/08/2025
Job roles
Deputy Director of External Affairs

Youth Futures Foundation is looking for a senior External Affairs professional to lead a busy multi-disciplinary team to drive our reputational, influencing and engagement work as the What Works Centre for Youth Employment.

Closing date: 20/07/2025