Researcher & evaluator hub
Together, we are building the evidence base on youth employment and learning what works to support young people.
Together, we are building the evidence base on youth employment and learning what works to support young people.
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.
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.
Our team of researchers, economists and evaluation experts work with the sector, academics and other evidence professionals to:
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.
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.
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.
Bringing together the latest data and evidence on the youth employment landscape to inform effective action.
Ourinteractive online tools are designed to help you access and make use of the latest youth employment data and research.
Summarising evidence on effective youth employment interventions.
View toolThe latest youth labour market data and our latest research.
View toolInteractive map of the youth employment system in England.
View toolThe world's largest interactive map of effective youth interventions.
View toolProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions
Location
Evaluators
StatusActive
TONIC is social research organisation, with extensive experience in criminal justice, public health and social inequalities.
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.
ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions
Location
Evaluators
StatusActive
Dartington Service Design Lab is a research charity.
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.
ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment
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Evaluators
StatusPast
Learning and Work Institute is an independent policy and research organisation focused on lifelong learning and better work.
Evidence and Research on Youth Employment, What Works: testing youth employment interventions ·
View bioProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment, What Works: testing youth employment interventions
Location
Evaluators
StatusActive
RAND Europe is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation whose mission is to help improve policy and decision-making through research and analysis.
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.
ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment
Location
Evaluators
StatusPast
Monash University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Evidence and Research on Youth Employment, Evidence into Action ·
View bioProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment, Evidence into Action
Location
Evaluators
StatusPast
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
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.
What Works: testing youth employment interventions ·
View bioProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions
Location
Evaluators
StatusActive
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.
ProgrammeBuilding Futures
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Evaluators
StatusPast
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.
ProgrammeBuilding Futures
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Evaluators
StatusPast
Global market research and public opionion specialist firm Ipsos provide data and understanding Society, Markets and People.
Programme
Location
Evaluators
StatusActive
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.
ProgrammeBuilding Futures
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Evaluators
StatusActive
A global research and innovation consultancy which uses deep understanding of human behaviour to improve people’s lives.
We are working in partnership with the Behavioural Insights Team to conduct an evaluation of the demonstrator phase of our Building Futures programme.
ProgrammeWhat Works: testing youth employment interventions
Location
Evaluators
StatusActive
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.
ProgrammeInspiring Futures, What Works: testing youth employment interventions
Location
Evaluators
StatusPast
Cordis Bright provides research, evaluation, advice and consultancy aimed at improving public services.
Cordis Bright have collaborated as evaluation partners on our Inspiring Futures and What Works programmes.
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: 21/09/2025Youth 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: 20/07/2025Stay up to date on our new research, expert analysis and guidance, and latest opportunities.