Becci Newton

Becci has over 15 years’ experience of applied social research and evaluation, and is a recognised expert on a range of topics including: young people’s transitions, particularly within the 14-19 phase; further education and Apprenticeship; and unemployment, inactivity and welfare to work. Cross cutting themes within her research are equality and diversity, social mobility, and overcoming poverty and disadvantage. Becci often manages large-scale, complex research projects and is adept at synthesising evidence from multi-method research studies and devising policy implications and recommendations. She leads process, critical realist and impact evaluations and research as part of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to provide formative and summative assessments of interventions.

Recently, she headed the consortium which evaluated the ‘18-21 Work Skills Pilot 1’ working with economists and researchers at IES, NatCen and AlphaPlus Consultancy. The pilot tested the provision of online training in English and Maths to low skilled young jobseekers. Implemented as an RCT, the evaluation involved an examination of the RCT data to test whether random assignment had operated successfully, a cost-benefit forecast, process evaluation as well as detailed insights into the nature of the English and Maths assessments and training initiated by providers of the pilot. While the pilot was withdrawn early due to the falling rate of unemployment, Becci and the team were able to derive lessons for future policy development and RCT delivery.

She has also recently led a large-scale qualitative study into the Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Reform Trials for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), complementing in-house research by the DWP analysts to understand impact using experimental and quasi-experimental techniques. The trials aimed to support ESA claimants to make progress towards the labour market. The project, which was completed in collaboration with Professor Roy Sainsbury at the University of York, involved longitudinal qualitative interviews with claimants and observations of claimant-adviser meetings. The primary, qualitative research was underpinned by the development of a theory of change for each of the trials.

Before joining IES, Becci worked as a Research Officer at the University of Brighton. Between 2000 and 2002, she led a project to implement a learning resource intranet within Brighton Business School. During this time she won a grant from the Business Education Support Team to explore models of e-learning in higher education. Following this, she moved to the Education Policy Evaluation Unit within the Faculty of Education, University of Brighton, where she led the local evaluation of the Children's Fund initiative. Prior to this she worked as a senior administrator within Brighton Business School and other departments at the University of Brighton.