Marchmont Employment and Skills Observatory
Improving evidence-based practice and policy in the field of employment and skills.
We are a leading Labour Market Intelligence provider in South West England giving added value to standard statistical analyses with:
- Survey and data gathering and analysis
- Insightful interpretations
- Making the data work for a range of audiences
- Project and programme evaluation
Clients include: LSIPs, Devon County Council, Somerset Council, Heart of the South West LEP, Trades Union Congress, Digital Jersey, The British Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, CEDEFOP and the OECD.

Research projects
The aim of the ACSOL project was to expand adult digital skills training provision through online learning targeting two covid-19 vulnerable sectors: workers in social care/health support and workers in the entertainment, arts and culture sector. Erasmus+ ACSOL: Acquiring Crisis-proof Skills through Online Learning (euskadi.eus)
We led the SEU project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, which focused on how universities can work more effectively and more inclusively within their city communities.
We led the CaST project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, which and focuses on how universities can work more effectively and more inclusively within their city communities by providing students with opportunities to work on local societal challenges.
With partners in the TUC and across Europe we developed thorugh ERASMUS+ a suite of new materials to support the delivery of a Mid Life Skills Review – by enhancing the much used Value My Skills Tool successfully launched in 2019.
We partnered the Trade Union Congress in an ERASMUS+ research project exploring mid-life skills. The project developed an exciting new tool – the Value My Skills Tool - along with new materials to support its use. This tool is designed to be used by older learners/workers in conjunction with a skills coach or skills mentor.
Our work in South West England
We provide skills and labour market analytical support to policymakers in the region in partnership with the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and Local Authorities. Recent reports include:
- Quarterly LSIP Employment and Skills Review (available for both Devon and Somerset)
- Workforce and Future Skills Strategy for Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority 2025
- Workforce and Future Skills strategy for Torbay 2025
- Workforce and Future Skills Strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 2025
- Summary of the findings of the Centre for Cities 2025 report examining performance of Exeter and Plymouth
- Skills needs for the Agratas Gigafactory for Somerset Council 2025
Let's work together
Email: a.dean@exeter.ac.uk
Staff list
Dr Andrew Dean
Head of Regional Engagement & Lead for the Marchmont Observatory
a.dean@exeter.ac.uk
Dr Lindsey Anderson
Regional Engagement Manager
l.j.anderson@exeter.ac.uk
Gabi Climie
Skills Analyst
g.climie2@exeter.ac.uk
Dr David Hancock
Project Researcher and Evaluator
d.hancock@exeter.ac.uk
Dreolin Fleischer
Engaged Research Manager
D.N.Fleischer@exeter.ac.uk
Catherine Hurcombe
Regional Engagement Assistant
C.Hurcombe@exeter.ac.uk


