Steve French, Keele University

1. The value of community based research in contextualising workplace study. Evidence from research into the skills and qualifications of East European migrant workers Steve French, Keele University

2. Aims andobjectives of research • Burton College obtained funding from LLN to explore possibilities of developing curricula to engage with recent arrivals to UK, explicitly from East Europe • Research conducted between June 2009 and May 2010 focused on three areas: • Labour market analysis to establish settlement and work patterns • Survey of East Europeans to establish existing skills, APL and potential demand for or barriers to further study; • Interviews with East Europeans to find out individual plans regarding living and working in the UK and further study

3. Relevant contextual research • Historical research into labour market position of ‘immigrant’ workers linked to the political economy of migration and function of migrant worker perspective • Important research into the barriers facing foreign born workers from accessing training and development (especially refugees) • Key role - perceived at least - of (job-specific) ESOL as a mechanism to match migrants to jobs in line with qualification • Limited research into migrant workers (c.f. views of employers about migrant workers and their skills) • Little research into demands for training and qualification beyond English language

4. Labour Market Analysis and Policy • East Staffordshire, South Derbyshire and Derby characterised by high concentrations of manufacturing work and unskilled work • Relatively high proportion of population with low qualifications levels • Impact of recession on Burton (e.g. rise in JSA count – currently 2.7%) • In Burton, inter-agency response to threat of recession which focuses upon up- and re-skilling excludes any reference to migration

7. Migrant workers • Evidence of recent migration from Eastern Europe, concentrated in Derby and Burton (NI and WRS data) • Polish largest national group • 40.7% of all NInos allocated • 60.7% of all East European NInos allocated • 86.0% of all East European NInos in East Staffordshire • WRS data indicates concentration of East European migrant employment in logistics and manufacturing • No reliable data on return migration during recession (just lower numbers of those applying for WRS)

9. Survey of migrant workers (1) • 103 respondents from A8 migrants • Split between Derby and Burton; vast majority Polish (84%) • Key personal characteristics: • Majority between 21-40 (83%) • Almost two-thirds female (66%) • Majority 82% arrived in 2005 and 2008, most in 2006 (24%) • Future intentions • Only 5% intend to leave UK • 21% uncertain over future • Labour market factors • 57% worked in manufacturing or transport and distribution • Majority have had 1-2 employment contracts (61%),

10. Survey of migrant workers (2) • Qualification levels • 36% NVQ level 2-3 equivalent • 39% NVQ level 4-5 equivalent • 36% NVQ level 6-7 equivalent • 70% claim to have an existing professional or vocational qualification from home country • Skill utilisation and recognition in UK • 14% have gained important new skills • 24% use existing skills at work • 22% have tried to have existing qualifications recognised • 74% would be interested in getting skills recognised

11. Survey of migrant workers (3) • English language acquisition 84% have attended ESOL classes of which: • 51% claim ESOL helped them communicate better at work • 61% claim ESOL helped them communicate better outside work • 78% are planning future courses to improve English • Barriers to taking further study • 3% no suitable courses available • 18% courses not held at suitable time • 11% cannot afford cost of course • 13% too tired to attend course after work • 22% do not know where to get information • 52% indicate they intend to take additional training and educational courses in the future

12. Interviews with migrant workers 15 interviews with East Europeans • 14 Polish, 1 Latvian • 8 female, 7 male • Range of ages, qualifications and skills • Majority work (or have family that works) in low-skilled manufacturing or logistics (the agency trap); • Different levels of engagement with ESOL and statutory/voluntary bodies in general; • Variation reflects stronger community organisation in Derby; • Strong influence of family ties on decisions taking regarding education and work, reinforcing idea of settled communities

13. Interviews with migrant workers: capturing variation

14. Study Conclusions • ‘established’ population of East Europeans in area, a significant proportion of whom intend to stay in the UK • recognition of continuing importance of English language provision among East Europeans • aspirations to gain ‘better’ employment and openness to further study but scope for this constrained by: • family and work circumstances • awareness of, and support in gaining, access to education and recognition of existing skills • vocational emphasis at heart of study needs

15. Lessons for industrial relations • The usefulness of public policy background and local labour market analysis to contextualise any study. • The degree of (intended) permanent settlement is an important factor to consider when examining migrant workers • Variation in activities, organisation and reach of community organisations is an important dynamic to consider when researching migrant workers • Perception of the need to improve language raises issues (again) of recruitment policies, union activities and State policy • Important to disentangle (again) the aspirations to gain ‘better’ employment and openness to further study from the constraints of employer/agency recruitment and retention practices, availability of education and family settlement