Adam Smith Business School

Training and Employment Research Unit

Research Activity

The Training and Employment Research Unit (TERU) is a multi-disciplinary centre for applied economic and social research, driven by a desire to offer practical solutions to the challenges faced by policy makers, practitioners, individuals and communities. We undertake research and evaluation work, and deliver specialist training for a wide range of clients across the UK.

Research Expertise

  • Research and evaluation focusing on:
    • Local and regional economic development
    • Key sectors of the economy
    • Business development and enterprising behaviour
    • Labour markets and skills issues
    • The worklessness agenda and employability
    • Social and economic inclusion
    • Community and area regeneration
  • Technical appraisals of the costs and benefits of potential projects and programmes
  • Establishment of monitoring and evaluation frameworks to test the delivery effectiveness of projects and programmes
  • Strategy planning and facilitation
  • Policy advisory work

Research methods

  • Literature reviews and document analysis
  • Design and management of surveys
  • Statistical analysis of existing datasets and survey-generated data
  • In-depth quallitative studies with individuals and organisations
  • Developing good practice case studies

Making an impact with our research

  • Feeding directly into policy development
  • Guiding the development of new projects, programmes and ways of working
  • Providing an evidence base
  • Formative evaluation work to enhance delivery
  • Challenging misconceptions

Research clients

We have an extensive range of clients who commission our research services.

  • International agencies such as European Commission and OECD
  • National government agencies such as Department for Work and Pensions
  • Regional governments and their agencies, principally the Scottish Government
  • Regional development organisations including East of England Development Agency, One North East, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise
  • Sub-regional bodies including Commission for New Economy (Greater Manchester) and Liverpool City Region
  • An extensive range of local authorities and local partnerships
  • Third sector organisations such as Community Enterprise in Scotland and Glasgow Social Economy Partnership