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

RAND Europe

Evidence and Research on Youth Employment, What Works Programme  · 

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RAND Europe
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment, What Works Programme

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.

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  · 

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Centre for Evidence and Implementation
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeEvidence and Research on Youth Employment

Location

Evaluators

StatusPast

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About

CEI is a global, social purpose organisation that helps generate, find, translate, use, and implement evidence to improve people’s lives.

Institute for Employment Studies (IES)

What Works Programme  · 

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Institute for Employment Studies (IES)
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works Programme

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 Programme  · 

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Youth Endowment Fund
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeWhat Works Programme

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 Programme  · 

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Cordis Bright
Research & evaluation partner

ProgrammeInspiring Futures, What Works Programme

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
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
Job roles
Research Manager

The 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: 14/07/2025
Trial recruitment
Themed funding round: Pre-employment vocational training

Partner 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: 31/07/2025
Job roles
Senior Relationship Manager

The Senior Relationship Manager will work in a dedicated Programmes and Grants directorate, working at the heart of Youth Futures Foundation.

Closing date: 09/07/2025
Job roles
Deputy Director of Evidence & Evaluation

We are looking for an experienced leader to manage a growing Evidence and Evaluation Team and lead cross-functional programmes to drive systemic improvements in youth employment outcomes.

Closing date: 03/06/2025
Job roles
Head of Evaluation (Impact)

We are looking for a dynamic and technically skilled Head of Evaluation to design and deliver high-quality evaluation programmes that generate actionable evidence to improve youth employment outcomes in England.

Closing date: 26/05/2025