@jamespendlepoet.bsky.social thank you for my poem at Paddington this morning James. allpoetry.com/poem/1437324...
The Trouble With Snowmen by Roger McGough at Allpoetry
Comments & analysis:
allpoetry.com
Catherine Foot
@csfoot.bsky.social
Advocating for a fairer social contract around work, pensions and retirement. Director of UK think tank the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement. https://www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-the-future-of-retirement
🚨NEW SPEAKERS🚨 We’re delighted an expert panel will be joining us to talk about the pension shock facing Gen X @theobertram.bsky.social @csfoot.bsky.social Zoe Alexander @gideonsalutin.bsky.social Baroness Kramer RSVP here: buff.ly/RsIwA31 Kindly sponsored by Standard Life
To take the long view on this week’s madness, recommend listening to this conversation b/t @lewisgoodall.com and political historian David Runciman. Doesn’t cheer you up, but does help you understand (possible tagline for the @newsagents.bsky.social generally) podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Is British politics just ungovernable?
Podcast Episode · The News Agents · 30/01/2026 · 47m
podcasts.apple.com
New research from us at the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement: "Decisions in the dark: How the DC pioneer generation are navigating retirement income decisions" Report explores the psychology and emotions of accessing DC pension pots. www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
Decisions in the dark: How the DC pioneer generation are navigating retirement income decisions
Retirement in the UK is changing. The shift from Defined Benefit (DB) to Defined Contribution (DC) pensions, combined with pension freedoms, longer working lives and a rising state pension age, means ...
standardlife.co.uk
New report out today "Jam tomorrow? Work, finances and retirement in an era of a rising State Pension age" Higher State Pension age has led to higher employment among people in their 60s. But there are 250k more people in pre-retirement poverty than in 2010 www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
Jam tomorrow? Work, finances and retirement in an era of a rising State Pension age
As the State Pension age rises to 67, we think the government needs to put in place policies to ensure that as many people as possible have financial security throughout their 60s and beyond.
standardlife.co.uk
This poem is dedicated to anyone making a start on their advent calendar today.
How can we support better, longer careers in the context of a rising State Pension age? Come and discuss this with us at our event in London on 13 November with our speakers @csfoot.bsky.social, @naomiclayton.bsky.social, Sarah Ellis and Dr Suzy Morrissey: events.standardlife.co.uk/ExtendingThe...
Extending the journey: Work and careers in an era of a rising State Pension age
Next year, the first group of people will see their State Pension age rise from 66 to 67 – the latest in a series of rises since 2010. Over that time, the employment rate of people in their 60s has in...
events.standardlife.co.uk
How can we support better, longer careers in the context of a rising State Pension age? Come and discuss this with us at our event in London on 13 November with our speakers @csfoot.bsky.social, @naomiclayton.bsky.social, Sarah Ellis and Dr Suzy Morrissey: events.standardlife.co.uk/ExtendingThe...
Extending the journey: Work and careers in an era of a rising State Pension age
Next year, the first group of people will see their State Pension age rise from 66 to 67 – the latest in a series of rises since 2010. Over that time, the employment rate of people in their 60s has in...
events.standardlife.co.uk
New research out today "Retirement Voice 2025: How an era of uncertainty is affecting our attitudes towards retirement" We used a new 6k survey of the UK population. I had fun designing the charts! Find out how people feel about finances, work and retirement www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
Such short-sighted behaviour here www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
To all who think capitalism can drive progressive change, it won’t – and here’s the shocking proof | Polly Toynbee
Asset manager Aberdeen’s surprise cut to funding research into inequality has left those that used its grants for good work reeling, says Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee
theguardian.com
If you’re interested in the future of retirement - sufficient occupational pensions, decent employment, sustainable state pension, that sort of thing - the work of my rebranded think tank might be of interest: www.standardlife.co.uk/centre-for-t...
Standard Life Centre for the future of retirement
We’re a think tank with a bold ambition to help everyone achieve long-term financial security
standardlife.co.uk
This is an excellent Lords Select Committee session - nominally on the economics of ageing - but opens up all the big topics: ageism, productivity, career change, fertility, social care, and the 'nastiest, hardest problem in finance' @csfoot.bsky.social parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...
This is the best thing I've read on the debate around disability & incapacity benefits Clearly sets out the reality of the current system, the challenges it faces, and what might actually help address them Brilliant work from Citizens Advice's @craigpberry.bsky.social medium.com/@craig.berry...
Focus on the causes, not the symptoms
The forthcoming disability benefits green paper could exemplify a new approach to welfare — instead it is likely to apply the same old…
medium.com
New post from me on Substack arguing that it's high time for adult careers guidance services to be part of the solution to economic growth. open.substack.com/pub/catherin...
Who's helping you work out what you want to be when you grow up?
The hidden power of adult careers guidance to boost economic growth
open.substack.com
Our new report out today makes the case for a secret weapon in efforts to get more people into good jobs and boost economic growth: adult careers guidance services. www.thephoenixgroup.com/phoenix-insi...
Work in Progress: Unlocking the value of adult careers guidance
The careers landscape is changing
thephoenixgroup.com
One of the clearest pieces on this I read so far. open.substack.com/pub/kellnerp...
How to defeat populism
Spoiler alert: it won't be easy
open.substack.com
There’s been some great stuff this week on the “what is Labour’s approach to growth” question. You’ve probably read or ignored it all by now, but worth a quick recap?
Promising if temporally vague news that DWP Minister Baroness Maeve Sherlock said in the Lords yesterday “we are committed to a second phase focused on retirement adequacy, of which we will provide further details in due course”. Can almost hear Nigel Hawthorne adding “in the fullness of time…”
Catherine Foot@csfoot.bsky.social · 2y agoColleagues in social care will be grimly familiar with the idea of a Gvt review to put off taking action. In pensions world, news over the weekend came that the Gvt is even thinking of postponing a review… “Rachel Reeves puts pensions review on hold” on.ft.com/3DtfYir via @marymcd.bsky.social
Colleagues in social care will be grimly familiar with the idea of a Gvt review to put off taking action. In pensions world, news over the weekend came that the Gvt is even thinking of postponing a review… “Rachel Reeves puts pensions review on hold” on.ft.com/3DtfYir via @marymcd.bsky.social
Rachel Reeves puts pensions review on hold to avoid extra burden on UK business
Some experts argue current savings rates will leave people without adequate retirement pots
on.ft.com
Feeling a bit low and perimenopausal tonight. But had a hot shower of managed decline and feel much more comfortable.
So proud of my friend Anna Dixon MP today for her impassioned, eloquent and deeply thought contribution to today’s incredibly difficult vote on assisted dying. youtu.be/C-X3ySsNks8?...
Anna Dixon MP for Shipley speaks in debate on the assisted dying bill - 29/11/24
YouTube video by Anna Dixon
youtu.be
Political blather about conditionality aside, what are we expecting to see from the Employment White Paper? Personally, my expectations have been successfully managed: I’m expecting a direction of travel but not much else. Things I’ll be keeping an eye out for…🧵
Ahead of the Get Britain Working White Paper, here's 5 things you need to know. 1. 80% employment rate would mean 1.5-2.5m more people in work. Other countries have done it & we can get there by narrowing gaps between groups. 3.5m out of work but want a job. learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...
Despite the inevitable promise to ‘crack down on benefits cheats’, next week’s white paper could set out plans for a much more positive and much more meaningful effort to rebuild our public employment service www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Liz Kendall says young people who won’t take up work will lose benefits
Work and pensions secretary says she will transform opportunities as Starmer bemoans ‘bulging benefits bill’
theguardian.com
Really enjoying having a place again where I can look at Brits’ excited pictures of the first snow while I watch a few solitary flakes fall and melt in west London. ❄️❄️❄️
Is there a UK employment / labour market starter pack doing the rounds at all, do you know @paulbivand.bsky.social @wilsontony.bsky.social @andrewphillips.bsky.social @emilyishness.bsky.social?
Ahead of the 'Get Britain Working' White Paper, it's good to see Liz Kendall and Wes Streeting highlighting the close relationship between work and health when visiting one of the WorkWell pilots: www.gov.uk/government/n...
“Good work is good for health” Work & Pensions and Health Secretaries declare on visit to health and work support service
Liz Kendall and Wes Streeting visit North Central London WorkWell service to see how early health interventions are helping to keep people in work or get them back to work.
gov.uk