Projects
We lead and collaborate on a variety of projects, many funded by research councils, charitable foundations, and government departments. We use our knowledge and research expertise to conduct research that informs academic debates and addresses real-world challenges.
Young Workers Transitions in the UK Labour Market
The ESRC-funded project investigates the ability of younger workers living in the UK to make successful transitions in the labour market and the barriers that might prevent them from making progress in their careers.
The Transitions of Young Workers in the UK Labour Market
Staff involved: Professor Jason Heyes, Dr Edward Yates
Productivity of Outcomes of Workplace Practice, Engagement & Learning (PrOPEL)
The PrOPEL Hub brings together leading academics from 7 institutions across the UK and the CIPD to explore workplace practices that deliver high quality, engaging work and and enhance business performance and productivity.
Productivity of Outcomes of Workplace Practice, Engagement & Learning (PrOPEL)
Staff involved: Professor Paul Latreille
Managerial Competences, Engagement and Productivity
This ESRC-funded project will evaluate the impact of training interventions designed to equip line managers with conflict competence and other skills needed to foster positive relationships with those they manage.
Managerial Competences, Engagement and Productivity
Staff involved: Professor Paul Latreille, Professor Richard Saundry
UNISON-funded project on public sector employment and union organising
This research aims to support UNISON in understanding long-term workforce and management trends in public services, across the public, private and voluntary sectors of the UK economy.
Staff involved: Dr Katy Fox-Hodess, Dr Andrew Smith
Tackling the undeclared economy in the West Balkans
Professor Colin Williams has been appointed to advise six countries in the West Balkans on their strategies for tackling undeclared work, to aid their accession to the European Union from 2025 (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia). Working with the Regional Cooperation Council and ILO, the objective is to align the strategies towards tackling informal employment in these six countries with the approaches being adopted in the European Union’s European Platform Tackling Undeclared Work. This will facilitate their smooth accession to the EU.
Staff involved: Professor Colin Williams
Other projects involving members of CDW include:
- Developing indicators for Effective Labour Administration. Jason Heyes
- An examination of the local economic governance strategies of UK cities and how they impact local labour market outcomes. Edward Yates.
- An exploration of the labour market conditions for young workers in the UK in the post-crisis austerity period. Edward Yates.
- Trade Union Internationalism in Latin America: A Study of the International Dockworkers' Council. Katy Fox-Hodess.
- Political Solidarity on the Docks: A Cross-National Study of Dockworker Solidarity with Palestine. Katy Fox-Hodess.
- An evaluation of Effective Conflict Resolution Skills training at an NHS Foundation Trust. Paul Latreille (with R. Saundry)
- The impact of technology on logistics workers: A comparative study. Kirsty Newsome
Recently completed research and consultancy projects involving CDW members include:
- The Growth of Non-Standard Work and Productivity Outcomes, funded by a Pioneer Award from the ESRC Productivity Insights Network
- The Productivity Insights Network
- Combining Work and Care, working with Employers for Carers and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and international academic partners
- SCA-Emp Diagnostic Toolkit, resulting from a research project funded by ESRC, which was undertaken by researchers from the University of Sheffield as well as international research partners. The research project focused on 'Supply chain accounting and employment practices in emerging economies'.
- The Impact of the National Living Wage on Businesses, undertaken on behalf of the Low Pay Commission, 2019.
- Living on the Edge: Experiencing Workplace Insecurity in the UK, undertaken on behalf of the TUC, 2016-17.
- Non-Standard Contracts and the National Living Wage, led by the University of Greenwich and undertaken on behalf of the Low Pay Commission, 2017.
- New Developments and Trends in Undeclared Work within the Sharing/Collaborative Economy, undertaken on behalf of the European Platform on Undeclared Work, 2017.
- Research examining Greater Manchester’s local economic governance strategies and their implications for young workers, 2018.
- The Practices of Enforcement Bodies in Detecting and Preventing Bogus Self-Employment, undertaken on behalf of the European Platform on Undeclared Work, 2017.
- Exploring the Handling of Discipline and Grievance using WERS2011 and WERS2004, funded by Acas, 2013–14.
- Exploring Conflict Management/Early Dispute Resolution Strategies, funded by Acas, 2013–14.
- Developing women’s careers in Japan, funded by the British Academy, 2015-2017
- Work and Employment of Parcel Delivery Workers, funded by the British Academy 2014-16
- GREY, 2013 – 2017. £1.2 million Marie Curie Industry-Academia Partnerships Programme grant - developing the capacity and capability for tackling undeclared work in Bulgaria, Croatia and the FYR Macedonia
- Supporting the transition from informal to formal economy and reducing undeclared work in Greece: identifying drivers and ensuring effective compliance, March 2016 – September 2016, International Labour Organisation
- Strengthening Policy and Capacities to Reduce Undeclared Work in Croatia, September 2016 – September 2017, with German Ministry of Finance and Slovak Republic Ministry of Labour (European Twinning Aid project)