The Social Market Foundation is Britain’s leading cross-party think-tank, standing proudly in the centre-ground of politics since 1989. We bring together people of all parties and none to develop evidence-based policies that support a fair society and a strong economy.
Publication
Saving apprenticeships: A policy primer
In this report, Baroness Alison Wolf highlights the calls for the new Growth and Skills Levy to focus on young people, have greater local involvement, and distinguish between apprenticeships and workplace upskilling. The report outlines short- and long-term strategies for creating a skills system that adequately encourages genuine apprenticeships.
| Published: | 17 January 2025 |
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| Author: | Professor Baroness Alison Wolf DBE |
Publication
The shape of a social tariff
As households struggle to afford their water bills, social tariffs have a crucial role to play in ensuring that water is affordable for everyone who needs it. While social tariffs are in place already, their design and eligibility is largely left to water companies to decide – resulting in worrying postcode lotteries and poor targeting. This briefing lays out some options for unified social tariff design.
| Published: | 16 January 2025 |
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| Author(s): | Sam Robinson, Niamh O Regan |
Publication
A level of uncertainty: How to resolve the debate over the future of Level 7 apprenticeships
While critics are keen to present the Government’s proposed shift away from funding Level 7 apprenticeships (equivalent to a Master’s degree) as worsening social mobility and employer flexibility, former government adviser Tom Richmond presents novel analysis that challenges these concerns – and puts forward a set of recommendations that prioritise the best interests of apprentices and taxpayers.
| Published: | 09 January 2025 |
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| Author: | Tom Richmond |
Media Release
Social Market Foundation responds to Labour government’s AI National Strategy
Sam Robinson, AI policy lead and senior researcher at Social Market Foundation, said: “The UK can be one of the top three world leaders on artificial intelligence and the government’s...
| Published: | 13 January 2025 |
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Media Release
1 in 6 apprenticeships taken by university grads, at a cost of over £400m a year
Top education expert calls for banning graduates from accessing apprenticeships as they take up 1 in 6 courses, while apprenticeships aimed at non-graduates are collapse.
| Published: | 08 January 2025 |
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Opportunity
New opportunity: Events Officer
We are currently looking to appoint an Events Officer to join our team. This is a full time, paid position. The deadline for applications is 9am Friday 17 January 2025.
| Published: | 16 December 2024 |
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The government does have a coherent strategy for economic growth, if not a holistic ‘theory’
Britain can lead the way in Europe on fireworks regulation – we can’t let momentum fizzle out
With Sarah Owen MP's Fireworks Bill scheduled for its second reading in the Commons, Senior Researcher Niamh O Regan looks at why it can help make us the envy of our neighbours in Europe.
No, Reeves is not hanging on by her fingertips – here’s why
If you have only been in Westminster for the last five years then it is understandable why you might have been conditioned to expect the Chancellor to resign on Wednesday. Theo Bertram takes stock, reminding us that Chancellors have a history of enduring through the barbs, the polls, and bad headlines.