UK employment services: understanding provider strategies in a dynamic strategic action field

Rebecca Taylor, James Rees, Christopher Damm

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)
    106 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    UK employment services are increasingly delivered by public, private and third sector organisations in quasi-markets that can be viewed as fields with actors (providers) competing for resources and position. The commissioning of the Work Programme produced an ‘episode of contention’ as fewer resources, shifting policy priorities and new contractual arrangements restructured relationships within the field. Drawing on empirical research the paper demonstrates how providers with different resources have navigated this period, employing strategies to manage challenger and incumbent roles and maintain their position in the field. The findings contribute to both field theory and our theoretical understanding of employment services.
    Original languageEnglish
    Number of pages15
    JournalPolicy and politics
    Early online date9 Sept 2014
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Keywords

    • employment services
    • Work Programme
    • sector
    • field theory

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