The Impact of Ferry Services on an Island Economy

This paper examines ferry fares and quality of service to a remote island region and analyses how this affects the economy of the islands. Taking the Western Isles in Scotland as a case study, the paper identifies the links between fares, service, and economic development and attempts to quantify this impact. A new methodology is developed to estimate the impact of service frequency. The Western Isles, especially the more remote southern islands, face particular challenges due to their peripheral location relative to markets and supplies in Scotland, the rest of the UK and the European ‘core’. This manifests itself in terms of access to skilled labour, raw materials, connections to other businesses and customers. These economies are likely to experience higher transportation costs to domestic and international markets and may also be limited by the frequency and reliability of connections. The ferry services between islands and with mainland Scotland are vital to the continued economic and social well-being of the Western Isles. The extent of the contribution of ferry services towards the economic and social prosperity of the Isles is very much dependant upon the frequency, speed and reliability of service and on the fare structure. It is therefore vital to ensure that the correct fare mechanism is in place to ensure maximum benefit to the local economy of the Isles, in addition to satisfying value for money criteria for the taxpayer and commercial viability for the operators. Our findings show that a reduction in ferry fares and, in particular in increase in service frequency, will have substantial income and employment benefits to the local economy, running into millions of pounds annually. It is also revealed that there is potential to increase the quality of service to the Isles, and reduce fares in some cases, with no increase in public subsidy towards operating costs. This is achieved by taking a more radical perspective to the routes and services operated, and by more closely matching service provision to the demands of communities within the islands.

The role of skills from worklessness to sustainable employment with progression

This study is shaped by the recognition that while there has been a great deal of policy development around the transition from unemployment and inactivity to employment over the last decade, policy has not been sufficiently informed about how best to nurture sustainable employment for those at risk of labour market exclusion. The review focused on evidence from 2005: it provides a review of data, UK and international literature and, incorporates findings from four international case studies ( Australia, Germany, Denmark and the United States. The report provides an overview of the economic context for low pay and low skilled work and highlights the need for a continuing commitment to promoting opportunities in the labour market as a means of progression and alleviating poverty and encouraging social mobility. The report argues that there is an inextricable link between skills and ‘better jobs’. The authors conclude that a long-term view is required to decide how best to support someone at the point of worklessness: to address employability barriers in the short-term; and prepare the individual to retain, and progress in, employment. The concept of career is explored as a framework for progression: a combination of career guidance, a career / personal development plan and career management skills are identified as tools to raise aspiration and enable individual’s to take action once they are in work to support their own progression. Thinking about the workplace, the report reviews the evidence on the role of job design, line management and progression pathways in facilitating workplace learning as a route to progression

Integrating family, friendship and business networks in family firms

Design Semi-structured interviews of thirteen family-owned and managed businesses are used to establish the patterns of networking. A detailed case study is then presented, allowing a deeper qualitative analysis of the interaction of different types of networks.Purpose This paper considers the multiple social networks of small family businesses and the dynamic interactions between them. It analyses family, friendship and business networks and the way additional ties within the networks become visible when they are considered together rather than separately.Findings The findings explore multiple rationalities employed in the networking of family businesses and how different aspects of their individual family, friendship and business networks contribute to business development.Research Implications The paper suggests that a multi-rational theoretical perspective of the family, rather than a solely business-related perspective, deepens our understanding of the dynamics of family businesses behavior and that different types of businesses may be influenced to varying degrees by different rationalities.Practical Implications Business networking tends to be deliberately encouraged by business support agencies, often via the deliberate development of events. A deeper understanding of the manner in which small businesses use and develop networks would enhance the direction and effectiveness of such investment.Social Implications Business networking tends to be deliberately encouraged by business support agencies, often via the deliberate development of events. A deeper understanding of the manner in which small businesses use and develop networks would enhance the direction and effectiveness of such investment.Originality The value of this research lies in the proposition that smaller businesses in rural areas are often surrounded by the inter-woven networks of family, business and community.https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-03-2020-0022aheadofprintaheadofprin

Working for Families

This report presents an evaluation of Phase 1 of the Working for Families Fund (WFF) covering 2004-06. WFF was established to invest in new initiatives to improve the employability of parents who have difficulties in participating in the labour market, specifically in employment, education or training. The Fund supported these parents through helping them find sustainable childcare solutions and through providing or accessing other relevant employability-related services. In rural areas, barriers created by poor transport, limited services and the lack of a critical mass of clients were also particularly important. WFF contributes to the Scottish Executive’s Closing the Opportunity Gap approach to tackling poverty and disadvantage, by improving rates of employment and economic activity, and to its commitment to eradicating child poverty within a generation

Working for Families

This report presents an evaluation of Phase 1 of the Working for Families Fund (WFF) covering 2004-06. WFF was established to invest in new initiatives to improve the employability of parents who have difficulties in participating in the labour market, specifically in employment, education or training. The Fund supported these parents through helping them find sustainable childcare solutions and through providing or accessing other relevant employability-related services. In rural areas, barriers created by poor transport, limited services and the lack of a critical mass of clients were also particularly important. WFF contributes to the Scottish Executive’s Closing the Opportunity Gap approach to tackling poverty and disadvantage, by improving rates of employment and economic activity, and to its commitment to eradicating child poverty within a generation

Evaluation Of The Working For Families Fund 2004-2008 SG

This report summarises the Final Evaluation Report of the Working for Families Fund (WFF) programme from 2004-08. It was carried out by the Employment Research Institute, Napier University, Edinburgh, for the Scottish Government over this period. Over the four years the budget for WFF was £50 million, a total of 25,508 clients were registered, 53% of all clients (13,594) achieved hard‘ outcomes, such as employment, and a further 13% (3,283) achieved other significant outcomes

Evaluation Of The Working For Families Fund 2004-2008 SG

This report summarises the Final Evaluation Report of the Working for Families Fund (WFF) programme from 2004-08. It was carried out by the Employment Research Institute, Napier University, Edinburgh, for the Scottish Government over this period. Over the four years the budget for WFF was £50 million, a total of 25,508 clients were registered, 53% of all clients (13,594) achieved hard‘ outcomes, such as employment, and a further 13% (3,283) achieved other significant outcomes

Career First: A new way of thinking about welfare-to-work programmes

In the UK, career guidance services are deeply involved with supporting students and young people. Their involvement with unemployed adults and jobseekers has been patchier and more limited in scope. It has often been Job Centres or agencies with DWP contracts that fulfil this function. This is, perhaps, an historical accident. It means career guidance work with unemployed adults is underdeveloped, and often not professionalised. In this article we will introduce a new way of thinking about these services. We looked at welfare-to-work from the perspective of three academic literatures that are more or less separate: labour market studies, career development and the Capability Approach. Each brings some insight bu

Career First: A new way of thinking about welfare-to-work programmes

In the UK, career guidance services are deeply involved with supporting students and young people. Their involvement with unemployed adults and jobseekers has been patchier and more limited in scope. It has often been Job Centres or agencies with DWP contracts that fulfil this function. This is, perhaps, an historical accident. It means career guidance work with unemployed adults is underdeveloped, and often not professionalised. In this article we will introduce a new way of thinking about these services. We looked at welfare-to-work from the perspective of three academic literatures that are more or less separate: labour market studies, career development and the Capability Approach. Each brings some insight bu