Viewpoint is a series of 'thought pieces' produced by SQW, Oxford Innovation and SQW Asia, the operating divisions of SQW Group.
The aim of the series is to share our thinking about key topical issues in the arena of sustainable economic and social development, public policy, innovation and enterprise with our clients and others with an interest in the particular subject area of each paper.
In each Viewpoint, we will draw on our policy research and implementation experience to consider topical issues and provide suggestions for strategic and practical solutions.
To sign up for publications in the Viewpoint series, please contact Michael Frearson, SQW viewpoint@sqw.co.uk
Oct 2009 – Employment Recovery - Local Solutions for a National Challenge
For more than a decade the policy response of central and local government to what has been termed “worklessness” has focused on tackling the large number of people on ‘inactive benefits’ and creating employment opportunities for all. Now the context has changed, and the immediate focus has shifted to helping those losing their jobs and to providing opportunities for significant numbers of young people to enter employment. Yet difficulties remain, and could even be exacerbated, for people who have been out of work for a long time. Alongside a series of national policy responses, local authorities have been at the forefront of tackling this complex and urgent national challenge. In the wake of the Houghton Review, Tackling Worklessness: a review of the contribution of English local authorities and partners (CLG, March 2009), and drawing on our project experience in this area, this Viewpoint identifies priorities for local action.
Employment Recovery - Local Solutions for a National Challenge (549KB) >>
Aug 2008 – Migrant Workers - Economic Issues and Opportunities
This Viewpoint looks at the scale of recent in-migration and its economic contours, rather than the implications of migration for public services and the housing market. It highlights a number of issues that regional, sub-regional and local organisations need to address if they are to promote sustainable economic competitiveness in the context of large-scale international labour flows.
Migrant Workers - Economic Issues and Opportunities (3MB) >>