Owning and implementing labour market research: A partnership of academics, trade unions, equality advocates and local government officers in the UK

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the Gender, Employment and Local Labour Market (GELLM) Programme of Research (2003‐2006), which is delivered through a partnership of academics, policy‐makers, trade unions and practitioners at national and local levels of the UK, directed by Professor Sue Yeandle of Sheffield Hallam University. It discusses the contractual and task‐based relationships, which are set up among the partners and the ways in which the research process is designed and executed collaboratively. The GELLM partnership is maintained without complicated information technology or customised training, relying instead on the commitment of the individuals involved and a very clear and well managed face‐to‐face report‐back structure. The paper concludes by analysing the criteria that made this partnership work successfully and the types of impact it is able to achieve locally and nationally on gender equality policy‐making.

Design/methodology/approach

The aims and objectives of the research programme included the production in partnership of gender‐disaggregated “Gender Profiles” of the labour market in 12 local authorities, awareness‐raising about gendered inequality in their local labour markets, and the exploration of specific issues in new, multi‐method local research studies whose focus is agreed with the project partners with a view to “gender mainstreaming” the research findings.

Findings

The GELLM research findings are not discussed as the focus is on the partnership arrangements.

Originality/value

Criteria for the successful working of the partnership, and the challenges faced are discussed in the paper.

Citation

Bennett, C. (2008), "Owning and implementing labour market research: A partnership of academics, trade unions, equality advocates and local government officers in the UK", Equal Opportunities International, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 181-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610150810853497