As we start taking the first steps towards a post-pandemic world, we all have much to reflect on. The last 17 months or so have been some of the most challenging that any of us have ever experienced – putting incredible pressure on employees, employers, communities and the country as a whole. But where there are challenges, there are also … Read more

Employment should free people from the grip of in-work poverty however, the reality is that for many people, being in work does not guarantee financial security. As we begin our recovery from what has been one of the most testing times in recent history, we need to work together to redesign our employment landscape so that … Read more

I was delighted to recently speak to the Fair Work Convention about the Young Person’s Guarantee and how it can deliver for young people and the business community. Having the opportunity to fulfil your potential as you grow up and enter adulthood is something that can easily be taken for granted. The ability to develop … Read more

In March – one year into the coronavirus pandemic and on the threshold on the Scottish Parliament election – my organisation the Carnegie UK  Trust published What Next for Fair Work in Scotland? As part of the Carnegie UK Trust’s mission to improve wellbeing, for the last five years our Fulfilling Work programme has had … Read more

A year on from the first lockdown, we have a better view of the huge impact of the pandemic on our lives. It has created heartache and hardship, exposing deep inequalities and stubborn poverty rates. While a large share of the workforce was protected by the UK furlough scheme – complemented by additional Scottish support … Read more

“We often wish that things had not happened in our time. But we have to deal with what we have been given. If challenges seem impossible and overwhelming, all we can do is look to the present and the future. We each have the choice to do something, to make our contribution, however small. In … Read more