Sarah Kelsey

The paper builds on recent flexitarianism scholarship by approaching this heterogeneous dietary category as a socio-cultural and political economic, rather than just a psychological phenomenon. It does this by drawing on Edmund Harris’s conceptualization of alternative food provisioning activities and subject-making as a “politics of the possible.” The paper addresses the following questions: does flexitarianism and the making of flexitarian subjectivities represent a “politics of the possible” and if so how; what are the limits of these politics and how might these limits be overcome? Empirically, the paper undertakes a qualitative analysis of UK national print news media coverage of flexitarianism and semi-structured interviews with self-identified flexitarians. Data from these two sources are interwoven in the discussion of themes that provide some evidence in support of flexitarianism as a politics of the possible, but which also draw attention to the limits of these politics. The paper concludes that only by addressing these limits can a full and critical assessment be made of flexitarianism’s contribution to a food system less dependent on animal-based foods.

The study employed a phenomenological approach aimed at gathering ‘deep’ information and perceptions through inductive, qualitative methods including observation and weekly semi-structured interviews with a small sample of young people at the camp. The findings indicate that responses to communication on obesity by the young people within the camp environment differed amongst the participants but attitudes towards the camp staff giving the information had a significant impact on how the young people felt about the communication and their overall camp experience. Of the themes which emerged from the research several revolved around trust. Namely, relational trust based on staff character and credible trust which centred on the behaviour modelled by the staff. The young people related to staff on an individual basis and these relationships were important in how communication was received. Recommendations from the research include the consideration of matching staff/resident characteristics when recruiting for camp staff in order to enhance the communication experience and to employ personal, egalitarian and young person-centred relationships to deliver important communication messages on camp.

This paper presents the preliminary findings of an empirical study into a specific and novel form of contemporary consumption: “yellow‐sticker shopping”. This type of consumption involves the active targeting for purchase of food products that have been reduced in price because they are approaching their expiry date. Given the complexities of food provisioning in austerity Britain, that include both non‐conventional sites like markets and food banks as well as conventional “discounters” and high street supermarkets, the analysis reveals how this form of food provisioning goes far beyond the “cost‐saving” accounts that might be expected. The research uses autoethnographic material in the form of vignette, constructed around research conducted in the North of England, together with analysis of an online discussion forum. Data are thematically analysed using literature on shopping and supermarkets and then organised according to the three dimensions of social practice: materials, competences and meanings. The paper makes three key contributions in relation to the practice of yellow‐sticker shopping. First, that it has distinct spatial and temporal qualities and the role played by the space of the supermarket and its associated fixtures and technologies is important. Second, that the uncertain supply of yellow‐sticker goods results in unpredictability. Successful shopping is celebrated and characterised in ways other than the drudgery often associated with the weekly shop. Third, it reveals an assemblage of competences, skills and knowledge not only in relation to grocery shopping but that take place in the home, around food, its storage and preparation and cooking and recipe knowledge. The paper concludes by outlining further planned research associated with the practice of yellow‐sticker shopping that will contribute to ongoing study into the alternative modes of food provisioning and their spatialities that are characteristic of life in contemporary Britain.

This article examines the attitudes of the British travel industry to non-white ethnic customers. Focus group discussions, semi-structured inteviews and an audit of training provision were used to investigate the extent of ethnic minority integration in the industry. Research findings showed a segregated industry in the Yorkshire region. Asian agencies served their own communities. Mainstream travel companies revealed a lack of understanding of consumers from non-white ethnic groups, particularly with respect to different levels of acculturation and their impact on holiday buying behaviour. Recommendations outline policies to attract more travel customers from the increasing numbers of ethnic minorities in Britain. © 2004 Taylor & Francis Ltd.

This paper examines the direct interconnections between gender, class, food security, sustainability and food waste, and value-driven choices. By doing so, we link feminist economics and ecofeminism in the context of grocery shopping in the United Kingdom. This affords us the opportunity to not only interrogate feminist economics relative to women’s position within a particular socio-economic system but also to position women’s decision-making on a day-to-day basis within a larger value system connecting the sustainability debate and environmental protection. Our central assumptions are both that the earth is being violated, and that sustainable living is necessary to avoid environmental catastrophe. In addition, our assumption was that women are more inclined to engage with sustainable shopping than men. To that end, we examined the views and perceptions on sustainable shopping in the UK, by using yellow sticker shopping as a case study. Data were collected using a bought Smart Survey sample in a UK-wide population in an approximately 20-minute online questionnaire. A data set of 792 complete responses was included in the data analysis. We collected an expected sample from across the UK segmented for gender (women 51%, men 49%) and region. Overall, these data demonstrate that men and women do see grocery economy differently. The findings suggest that values are the most important predictors of the ways in which women evaluate yellow-sticker food shopping. However, the data also reveals that socio-economics also significantly influences how women evaluate yellow-sticker food shopping. Finally, views on corporate social responsibility and environmentally friendly shopping influence attitudes towards yellow sticker shopping, and women who are more inclined to support CSR initiatives and environmentally friendly shopping are also more inclined to purchase yellow sticker food.

In an increasingly competitive, globalised world, knowledge-intensive industries/ services are seen as engines for success. Key to this marketplace is a growing army of ‘talent’ i.e. skilled and dedicated knowledge workers. These knowledge workers engage in non-routine problem solving through combining convergent, divergent and creative thinking across organizational and company boundaries - a process often facilitated though the internet and social media, consequently forming networks of expertise. For knowledge workers, sharing their learning with others through communities of practice embedded in new information media becomes an important element of their personal identity and the creation of their individual brand or e-social reputation. Part of the new knowledge/skills needed for this process becomes not only emotional intelligence (being attuned to the emotional needs of others) but being able to do this within and through new media, thus the emergence of virtual emotional intelligence (EQ). Our views of current research found that HRD practitioners in 2020 might need to consider Virtual EQ as part of their talent portfolio. However it seems that new technology has created strategies for capturing and managing knowledge that are readily duplicated and that a talent differentiator in 2020 might simply be the ability and willingness to learn.

This report is one of a series of outputs from the National Evaluation of the Capacity Building Programme for local government in England (CBP), undertaken by a team of researchers at the Policy Research Institute (PRI) at Leeds Metropolitan University and the Cities Research Unit at the University of West of England. This report summarises the findings from all four key strands of the evaluation. Because of the difficulties associated with quantifying the capacity of local authorities, much less the sector, in relation to the dynamic roles and objectives that they pursue, the report focuses on what has worked, why and in what circumstances, rather than providing a definitive assessment of the extent of change of capacity building enabled by the CBP. The CBP was launched in 2003 as a joint Department for Communities and Local Government/Local Government Association (LGA) initiative to support capacity building and improvement activities within local authorities in England. The CBP has supported four main streams of improvement and capacity building activity in local authorities (see Section 1.2; p13).

The report is one of a series of outputs from the national evaluation of the CBP, being undertaken by a team of researchers at the Policy Research Institute (PRI) at Leeds Metropolitan University and the Cities Research Unit at the University of West of England. The Capacity Building Programme for local government was launched in 2003 as a joint Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) / Local Government Association (LGA) initiative to support capacity building and improvement activities within local authorities in England. The evaluation of the Capacity Building Programme has been underway since late 2004. A scoping phase was conducted until May 2005, including a short evaluation of the Pilot Programmes. The main phase of the evaluation commenced in September 2005 and encompassed four main phases (see Section 1.3: p10).

This paper examines the interconnections between gender, class, food security, sustainability food waste, and values. We link feminist economics and ecofeminism in the context of grocery shopping in the United Kingdom. As an environmental and economic issue, food waste is emerging as a global threat with developed nations grossly contributing to the squander sequence of resources. This context affords the opportunity to both interrogate feminist economics and place routine decision-making within a larger value system connecting the sustainability debate and environmental protection. Data were collected using a bought Smart Survey sample in a UK-wide population in an approximately 20-minute online questionnaire. A data set of 792 complete responses was included in the data analysis. The findings present a dual narrative on grocery shopping suggesting that reduced-priced shopping is often evaluated by women as socially responsible and environmentally friendly. However, women from lower socio-economic backgrounds demonstrate a resentment and negative evaluation of price-reduced shopping. We argue these different attitudes reflect relative perceptions of agency and control which these data suggest are connected to the propensity for food waste and a worsening squander sequence.

This report is one of a series of outputs from the national evaluation of the Capacity Building Programme for local government in England (CBP), being undertaken by a team of researchers at the Policy Research Institute (PRI) at Leeds Metropolitan University and the Cities Research Unit at the University of West of England. This report summarises the findings from the second phase of fieldwork with regional and sub-regional Improvement Partnerships, established to facilitate capacity building and improvement activity in local authorities. The research underpinning this report was undertaken in seven case study Improvement Partnerships (see Section 2) in October and November 2006 and follows a similar – baseline – exercise undertaken during the same period during 2005. It thus both draws on the earlier research (see Section 3) and identifies evidence of progress and impact (see Section 10) since the baseline phase.

This report presents the findings of the evaluation of the Capacity Building pilots. The evaluation of the pilots is part of the on-going evaluation of the Capacity Building Programme and has been undertaken in the early scoping phase of the main evaluation in order to capture key learning points and insights into the programme. It is intended that the ongoing evaluation of the Capacity Building Programme will be formative and assist in the development of the programme over time. In what follows the background to the pilots programme is discussed, highlighting the kinds of capacity building activities the pilots are engaged with and the link between the Capacity Building Programme and the CPA. The report outlines the structure and purpose of the pilots programme and the nature and characteristics of the different pilots that were undertaken. The seven case studies are then discussed in more detail in the main body of 1 Introduction | 5 the report. These are drawn together in key themes and findings which can be used to strengthen future project development.

This report summarises emerging findings from initial scoping analysis and case study fieldwork with authorities that have received Direct Support from the Capacity Building Programme (CBP) for local government. The report is one of a series of outputs from the national evaluation of the CBP, being undertaken by a team of researchers at the Policy Research Institute (PRI) at Leeds Metropolitan University and the Cities Research Unit at the University of West of England.

A synthesis of findings from social research on the District of Bradford. This report synthesises the findings from a wide range of social research undertaken on the District of Bradford, primarily between 1995 and 2005. The researchers reviewed almost 200 pieces of work. The key results are summarised under thematic headings: - The social, economic and institutional context - Community cohesion - Housing, neighbourhoods and regeneration - Business and enterprise - Health, disability and social care - Children and young people - Education, skills and the labour market - Crime and community safety It also identifies a future research agenda. The main purpose of the review was to provide the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and local organisations in Bradford with a firm basis upon which to build future work in the District.

This report presents the findings of a qualitative study of the operation and impact of the Multiple Provider Employment Zone (MPEZ) initiatives that have operated in four cities (London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Glasgow) since 20041. The study builds on earlier work by Cambridge Policy Consultants (Hirst et al. 2006), which concentrated on issues related to the early establishment of the MPEZ initiative and the initial experiences of Providers, Jobcentre Plus districts and customers. The Phase 2 research took place approximately one year on from the Phase 1 study and focused on tracking developments in the operation of MPEZ as the initiative became more established. The study involved interviews with EZ Providers (managers and Advisers), Jobcentre Plus representatives (managers and Advisers) and customers (young people (aged 18-24) claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), who would otherwise have returned to New Deal for Young People (NDYP)2, lone parents receiving Income Support and early entrants – see section 1.6 for full details). In order to gain a wider perspective, researchers also spoke to representatives of organisations that have employed MPEZ participants and a number of stakeholder organisations with a broad interest in local labour market policies and programmes in the MPEZ areas. In total, the research involved interviews or group discussions with over 300 individuals, providing a range and depth of qualitative information that allows a detailed picture to be established of the way that MPEZs developed between mid- 2005 and mid-2006, including the experiences of employers and the labour market destinations of MPEZ participants. A central issue addressed in the research and in this report is the ‘multiple’ element of the initiative and the value that is added through the existence of more than one Provider in each MPEZ area. Questions of allocation, choice, specialisation, competition and innovation are considered from the perspectives of Providers, Jobcentre Plus, customers, employers and stakeholders and the final sections present some conclusions and issues for consideration in relation to these topics.