Associate Research Director for Employment and Social Policy

Dr. Heather Rolfe

Associate Research Director for Employment and Social Policy Phone: +44 (0)20 7654 1937 Twitter: @Heather_Rolfe

Research interests:

Heather no longer works for NIESR

Heather Rolfe leads NIESR's Employment and Social Policy team. Her main interests are in immigration, education and barriers to employment. Her immigration research focuses on employers’ use of migrant labour and skills and workable immigration policies. She also researches public attitudes towards immigration and particularly understanding of economic and social impacts. She is also currently researching the integration of migrant pupils in schools, and integration of religious and ethnic groups. Her research is currently funded by the Leverhulme Trust, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, DfE, Education Endowment Foundation and the Cavendish Coaltion.

Education:

BA (Sociology), Sheffield
PhD Southampton - Technological change and skill

Employment:

1998 – present NIESR
1990-1998 - Research Fellow, Policy Studies Institute
1987-1990 - Research Officer, Banking Insurance and Finance Union
1985-1987 - Research Officer, Essex University

Additional information:

Examples of current and recent projects

Evidence and perceptions in the Brexit immigration debate (Leverhulme Trust)
Promoting integration of religious and ethnic minority groups in schools (for DfE)
Good practice in the Integration of migrant pupils in schools (Paul Hamlyn Foundation)
The impact of reforms to welfare and welfare to work on equality groups (for the Equality and Human Rights Commission)
The impact of the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage on employers' pay setting practices (for BEIS)
Workable options for immigration policy, post Brexit (ESRC UK in a Changing Europe)
The response of employers in key sectors to Brexit (ESRC UK in a Changing Europe)
Use of employment agencies in the public sector - for the Office of Manpower Economics
The impact of free movement on the labour market (ESRC)
Changing the debate on immigration using video animation - funded by the City of London
Local employment and skills programmes - for the Local Government Association
The long-run dynamic impacts of migration - funded by Barrow Cadbury Trust, NASSCOM and Unbound Philanthropy
The potential impact of migration from Bulgaria and Romania on the UK resulting from the lifting of restrictions in 2014 - for the British Embassy/Foreign Office
Evaluation of projects commissioned by the Education Endowment Foundation:
- Mind the Gap2 - a trial using 'Growth Mindset' by Portsmouth University
- Developing Healthy Minds in Teenagers - a PSHE programme delivered by How to Thrive
- Powerful Learning Conversation
- Lesson Study (with CEP/LSE)
- The Abra Phonics programme (with CEP/LSE)
- Evaluating Formative Assessment - a trial delivered by SSAT
- Improving Working Memory - a trial delivered by Oxford University
- Young Enterprise