February WorkerTech Round-Up
For the shortest month of the year, February sure has been busy for our colleagues at the Resolution Foundation!
We published Unsung Britain this month, a report that culminates an 18-month research and analysis on the living standards of the 13 million working-age families across the poorer half of the country. We've summed up the takeaways most relevant to our readership, as well as a special aside straight from the Final Conference.
Also, for those interested in WorkerTech startups, some exciting events and programmes await your attention at the end of the newsletter.
With that, we'll see you in March!
Aish
Spotlight: Unsung Britain
February saw the publication of Unsung Britain from the Resolution Foundation. The report is an assessment of how living standards have stalled for the 13 million working age families whose incomes fall below the median. While these households have seen employment rise and working hours increase, there has been little sustained improvement in their disposable incomes. And given that growth since the 2008 financial crisis has been weak, the prospect of meaningful gains remains pushed into the far future.
For our readers, we've drawn out findings from the report's "10 facts" that are most relevant to the world of work.
First, a large share of workers remain concentrated in low-paid sectors with limited wage progression. Entry into work has improved over time, but moving up remains difficult.
Second, economic inactivity (particularly linked to long-term sickness) continues to constrain labour supply and trap many working-age adults outside stable employment.
Third, regional disparities in productivity and job quality persist. Outside high-performing cities, workers face structurally weaker employer mixes and thinner labour markets.
Fourth, insecurity and income volatility remain embedded features of parts of the labour market, limiting workers’ ability to plan, train, or progress.
Finally, our analysis finds that underinvestment in adult skills continues to restrict upward mobility.
The report’s recommendations reflect this diagnosis. This means shifting policy attention from employment rates to progression within work. Building clearer career ladders within low-paid sectors, rebuilding adult skills infrastructure, and better integrating employment and health support, given the scale of inactivity linked to long-term sickness.
It also underscores the importance of place: improving local transport, widening access to strong labour markets to ensure growth is not confined to a narrow set of high-performing cities.
Aside
The report was launched at the Unsung Britain Final Conference, which culminated the nearly 18 months of research (supported by JPMorganChase) that the Resolution Foundation has undertaken to better understand how working age families across the poorest half of the country have fared in the 21st century so far.
The conference saw a range of experts speak on topics like the cost of living and ill-health-related labour market inactivity through moderated panels.
One of these panels saw Charlie Mayfield, chair of the Keep Britain Working Review, talk about the importance of employers taking a progressive view of disability and accessibility at the workplace. Employers are losing out on potentially millions of workers, who may face physical or cognitive barriers, but are able and willing to make meaningful contributions at the workplace if adequately included and integrated. You can read more about the Keep Britain Working Review here and watch the panel in full here.
Other insights from the Resolution Foundation
The Foundation's Living Standards Outlook assesses the near-term path for household incomes and living standards in the UK, using new forecasts for disposable incomes against the backdrop of official economic assumptions. It shows a modest improvement on paper over the year ahead, but highlights deeper weaknesses later in the decade.
The outlook flags a softening labour market: hiring is set to weaken, vacancy rates to fall, and progression opportunities to slow as growth falters. Lower-paid workers and those in insecure roles are most exposed to these cyclical risks. In short, while headline income figures improve on paper next year, the broader recovery in living standards remains fragile and unevenly distributed.
This month, the Foundation also published a preview for the Spring Forecast, expected from the Chancellor in early March. Three months on from the Budget, the fiscal outlook is broadly unchanged. Weaker-than-expected GDP and inflation in late 2025, small policy U-turns, and lower migration data are estimated to add around £6 billion to borrowing by 2029-30. However, lower borrowing costs offset most of this deterioration, leaving fiscal ‘headroom’ (remember the discussions around last year's budget?) only slightly reduced at around £20 billion.
The bigger story is risk. A sustained lower migration path could reduce receipts by over £10 billion. Additional pressures from defence and SEND spending could add up to that by the end of the decade. The forecast also assumes politically challenging measures ahead, including planned Fuel Duty rises and tax increases later in the Parliament.
While avoiding a major fiscal event this spring may be the more careful approach given heightened uncertainty, underlying economic conditions remain weak, with growth subdued and the labour market loosening.
The Foundation will publish a full analysis once the Spring Forecast is released.
Get involved
Ufi VocTech Week
Ufi's annual Week of VocTech is returning 16-20 March. This is a free programme of events showcasing the impact of vocational technology and inspiring action to transform UK skills.
A session you may find especially relevant is ‘EdTech meets employability: Investing in job readiness’: an in‑person event led by Ufi Ventures bringing together investors, founders and infrastructure operators to explore where innovation and capital can have the greatest impact.
Explore the full programme at weekofvoctech.co.uk.
CVC DIF–Allia Accelerator Challenge
Now in its fourth year, this programme supports impact-driven UK ventures with proven concepts and early traction to refine their go-to-market strategy, strengthen product-market fit, and prepare to scale. Selected teams receive six months of hands-on mentoring and the chance to secure up to £50,000 in (non-dilutive) funding, culminating in a Final Pitch Day at CVC Capital Partners.
You can find the full programme details and application link here.
Apply for direct investment from Resolution Ventures
We accept applications from WorkerTech ventures on a rolling basis. You can book a slot in our office hours for an initial conversation.