Jake Shepherd

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Articles

Britain is walking into an American opioid crisis

Dec 11, 2024 | newstatesman.com | Jake Shepherd

In 2021, 21-year-old musician Dylan Rocha collapsed in his bathroom. Unaware that the heroin he received in the post was tainted with a potent synthetic opioid, he became unresponsive and was soon pronounced dead. Rocha’s tragic death is believed to be one of the first in Britain linked to a nitazene – substances that can be up to 100 times stronger than heroin. Rocha’s case is not an isolated incident.
Laying the foundations: How to support SMEs to take on apprentices in skilled trades

Dec 5, 2024 | smf.co.uk | Niamh Regan |Jake Shepherd

Published: 05 December 2024 This report explores the key enablers and barriers for SMEs in taking on more young apprentices in skilled trade roles, including green jobs. It presents new panel data on the attitudes of trades firms, incorporating insights from interviews with skilled trade workers. Additionally, it discusses policy solutions to support these businesses in effectively increasing their apprentice intake.
Recovering the lost workforce

Sep 19, 2024 | smf.co.uk | Jake Shepherd

Published: 19 September 2024 This report explores the barriers that people face getting into work, how those barriers might be addressed, and the potential that could be unlocked by doing so. It provides new primary research, using SMF survey data on the challenges, needs, and wants of those seeking employment. KEY POINTSThe government has set out the aim of raising employment to 80%.
Capital improvement: A proposal for a new in-work poverty benchmark for London employers

Jul 24, 2024 | smf.co.uk | Richard Hyde |Jake Shepherd

This report is the culmination of a three-year project supported by Trust for London examining the scale and impact of in-work poverty in London. It proposes the creation of a new employment benchmark, empowering employers to better support their staff. WHY DOES LONDON NEED A NEW BENCHMARK? The first stage of this project drew attention to the scale of the in-work poverty problem in London, what drives it, and the impact it has on workers, their families, and wider society.
Roads to recovery: Exploring UK prison rehabilitation and its alternatives

Nov 30, 2023 | smf.co.uk | Jake Shepherd |Niamh Regan

Published: 30 November 2023 One of the primary purposes of the UK prison system is to facilitate offender rehabilitation. However, inadequate support and high reoffending rates mean it may be failing to live up to that ideal. Drawing upon lessons from the Netherlands and Norway, this briefing highlights the potential benefits of alternative approaches to rehabilitation.
Putting intensive farming out to pasture: Can alternative proteins reduce farmed animal suffering?

Nov 13, 2023 | smf.co.uk | Jake Shepherd

Published: 13 November 2023 The market for meat alternatives has grown rapidly over the last decade, yet they still only account for 1% of the global meat market. This report, the third and final instalment of a series, investigates the potential for further growth in the alternative meat market, and how far these products can drive a meaningful shift in eating habits.
The UK must prepare for a fentanyl crisis

Nov 2, 2023 | newstatesman.com | Jake Shepherd

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, was first synthesised in 1959. Like its naturally occurring opioid counterparts, morphine and codeine, it was introduced for pharmaceutical purposes as a potent and effective treatment for severe or long-term pain, and used as an intravenous anaesthetic. But since then, that legacy has taken a dark turn.
Mutual understanding: The modern mutual sector and how to support it

Jun 22, 2023 | smf.co.uk | Jake Shepherd

Mutuality has a rich history, but it remains largely misunderstood. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the modern mutual sector, exploring its key opportunities and challenges. SUMMARY Due to the benefits and service advantages mutuals can offer, there are significant opportunities for growth in the UK’s mutual sector:Mutuals tend to be more resilient than investor-owned firms, making them a dependable choice in a rapidly changing – and uncertain – economy.
A duty of care: In-work poverty in London’s public sector

Jun 7, 2023 | smf.co.uk | Jake Shepherd |Richard Hyde

In-work poverty is not just a problem experienced by workers in the private sector. In this report, we explore the experiences of Londoners who work in the public sector and are living in poverty. KEY POINTSNearly 140,000 Londoners that live in a household relying on a public sector wage, are in poverty.