Latest research
SkillsActive’s research team is committed in helping to improve the skills needed throughout UK’s Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being sector by providing independent, employer-based, and practical research using the most current information and analysis.
Our research team provides unrivalled insights on the Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being sector across the UK. SkillsActive research has a continuous programme of high quality Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) to provide the industry, stakeholders and partners with timely and essential information.
SkillsActive’s suite of research reports are listed below. Most of the reports can be downloaded for free while but some are available for sale, like Working in Fitness.
Sector Skills Assessment reports
Previous SSA reports
| 2010 | UK full report |
| England | |
| Wales | |
| Scotland | |
| Northern Ireland | |
| UK Summary |
Regional Labour Market Assessments (part of SSA suite)
Recent Research
Outdoors
| 2009 | Outdoors Survey |
| Outdoors summary |
Playwork
| 2010 | Playwork People 4 |
| Playwork People 3 | |
| Playwork People 2 | |
| Playwork People 1 | |
| 2010 | Playwork Graduate research |
| 2007 | Children’s views |
| 2005 | Benefits of Play and Playwork |
| 2011 | Trends in Northern Ireland Childcare |
| 2011 | Level 3 Initiative Evaluation (coming soon) |
| 2007 | International benchmarking |
| 2010 | SkillsActive Awareness and perceptions Survey (coming soon) |
Summary / abstract only available. To purchase the full report, please visit our online store:
| 2010 | Working in Fitness |
| 2009 | Working in Fitness |
Research support
Discover more about how SkillsActvie's research team can support you.
Managing research projects
If an organisation doesn’t have its own researchers in-house, it can be hard to compose appropriate research objectives, or write an Invitation To Tender (ITT) for a research agency, using the right terminology, specify the expected requirements and gather the information needed to make a good selection decision. Understanding the most appropriate research methods helps in assessing the ideas presented, and which agency offers best value for money. SkillsActive could help with this key selection stage and manage the project. This would be appropriate for telephone surveys using CATI or Web usability studies. Typically the management costs about 10 per cent of the project value.
Conducting research
SkillsActive’s research team has the skills, expertise and software to undertake a variety of research projects including:
- Literature reviews
- Qualitative research – focus groups, and depth interviews
- Online surveys
- Postal surveys
- Future Visioning
- Evaluation
Costs depend on the scale and difficulty of the research. Initial scoping meetings would be free of charge, during which time we could work up a fully costed proposal. Alternatively, please add us to your tendering list.
Sponsor a question
With some of our surveys, like Working in Fitness, it is possible to sponsor a question. Ideally, a group of organisations or training providers might be interested in sharing two or three questions. Please ask us to give you an estimate.
Bespoke analysis
It may be feasible for us to re-analyse a published survey to extract particular information for you e.g. employee satisfaction from the Working in Fitness survey.
What information do you need?
We are always open to other ideas for research. If you spot an information gap that you think would benefit the sector, use the following link to suggest ideas. We may not be able to deliver it, but we’ll certainly consider it.
To discuss how we can help you in further detail, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Research methods
Discover more about SkillsActive's research methods
Primary research
- Involves the collection of new or updated information or data
- Usually involves some ‘fieldwork’
- Questions individual or groups of respondents
- Guarantees the respondent’s confidentiality
- Reports the results in an aggregated form
Qualitative and quantitative surveys
- Focus groups
- Depth interviews, face to face or by telephone
- Online surveys
- Postal surveys
- Telephone surveys, with field work subcontracted
Secondary research
- Using existing research information from other sources
- Often referred to as ‘desk research’
- Commonly undertaken using the Internet
- Some sources can require additional analysis e.g. National Statistics
Research
Our work is underpinned and informed by the collation of up to date labour market information and analysis.
Our research team provides high quality Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) on the Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being sector which highlights areas for future development in relation to workforce development.
SkillsActive’s research reports are available through downloads only and we generally do not keep a stock of hardcopy research reports.
Discover more about the work of our research team:
Information and Resources
SkillsActive can offer a wealth of information to those involved in the sport, fitness, outdoors, playwork and caravan industries.
Resources & toolkits
Written by experts in each sector, SkillsActive can offer a range of resources. Search for books, teacher resources, DVDs and downloads relevant to you!
Premium employer membership
Employers wishing to use our staff as a resource can choose premium membership, offering a package of information and support from a dedicated account manager.
Research
Our research team provides high quality Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) on the Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being sector.