In this episode, Brodie Gillan is joined by Chirsty McFadyen, and Laura Robertson, who is a Research Manager at the Poverty Alliance. Brodie, Chirsty, and Laura discuss the Serving the Future project in the context of Challenge Poverty Week.

Serving the Future is a three-year action research project working with hospitality employers and workers funded by the Robertson Trust. The project is seeking to understand, reduce and prevent in-work poverty and identify changes that could be made within the hospitality sector.

You can find out more about Serving the Future here: https://www.servingthefuture.scot/

You can learn more about the Poverty Alliance & Challenge Poverty Week here: https://www.povertyalliance.org/

Participants

Brodie Gillan, Assistant Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Chirsty McFadyen, Associate Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Laura Robertson, Research Manager, Poverty Alliance

Timestamps

(00:47) What is Serving the Future?
(03:06) What is Challenge Poverty Week and how does it relate to Serving the Future?
(05:20) Why did we focus on the hospitality sector for this project?
(07:20) What are the main challenges facing low-paid workers in the hospitality sector?
(15:55) What conversations have we had with hospitality employers throughout the project?
(22:31) What can listeners learn about in-work poverty?
(27:02) What’s next for Serving the Future?

(00:35) Mairi discusses the headlines from our commentary publication, covering the main indicators of economic conditions

(03:55) Douglas reflects on whether this chimes with the experience he is having with clients

(07:12) Mairi, Joao and Douglas discuss the latest data on Scottish Income Tax, and our old friend fiscal drag

(15:03) Mairi and Joao discuss our analysis of fiscal black holes

(21:33) We all speculate about the UK Budget on 30th October, focussing on the implications if capital gains tax features in the changes the Chancellor is likely to make.

(30:30) Mairi discusses some of our analysis on the Scottish Public sector.

Episode Notes

In this episode, Hannah Randolph is joined by Chirsty McFadyen who leads on our learning disabilities employment research. Hannah and Chirsty discuss the Equality Act and its implementation issues, as well as some of our latest findings from speaking to employers.

We are also joined by Liam Brown, Entrepreneurial Executive at Young Enterprise Scotland, who discussed his neurodivergent condition and how language has impacted his experiences of employment.

Learning disabilities research by the Fraser of Allander Institute can be found at the following link: https://fraserofallander.org/research/adults-with-learning-disabilities-in-scotland/

Our report prepared for the Scottish Parliament on the disability employment gap can be found at: https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2024/1/12/434f4dc4-caa1-4971-b5f3-7699e70ec1ff

Participants

Chirsty McFadyen, Economics Associate, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Hannah Randolph, Economics Fellow, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde

Liam Brown, Entrepreneurial Executive, Young Enterprise Scotland

Timestamps

(0:00) Introduction

(00:14) What is the equality act and how does it define disability?

(02:04) What was the reason for having the legislation?

(03:46) What have been some of the issues with it?

Interview with Liam Brown (06:45)

(14:26) Learning disabilities and employers research findings

(24:14) What advice works for employers hiring people with learning disabilities?