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 toolProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment, What Works Programme
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.
ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment
Location
Evaluators
StatusPast
Monash University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment
Location
Evaluators
StatusPast
CEI is a global, social purpose organisation that helps generate, find, translate, use, and implement evidence to improve people’s lives.
ProgrammeWhat Works Programme
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
Location
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
Location
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
Location
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 Programme
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 Programme
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.
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: 20/07/2025The Research Manager will work in a small team that is responsible for commissioning and managing high quality, robust social research, and for synthesising and disseminating evidence of what works to support the most disadvantaged young people into good jobs.
Closing date: 14/07/2025Partner with us to improve our understanding of pre-employment vocational training interventions and their potential impact on young people aged 16-25 in England, particularly those facing additional barriers to employment.
Closing date: 31/07/2025Stay up to date on our new research, expert analysis and guidance, and latest opportunities.