Workforce Development
The Rt. Hon John Denham MP identified that a key priority for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) will be “to create a truly demand-led responsive system”. Engaging with employers through Train-to Gain, Learning Accounts and other mechanisms, to identify the skills needs of the current and future workforce, will be the means to realising this priority.
Consequently, we are very involved in projects linked to this key policy area, which is growing as a result of the Leitch recommendations. We evaluated the pre-cursor to Train-to-Gain, Employer Training Pilots, in Yorkshire and Humber on behalf of Yorkshire Forward. We undertook further work on the Train to Gain service for LSC Yorkshire and Humberside, focusing on the effectiveness of the referral process from Train to Gain brokers to the Business Link Information, Diagnostic (IDB) service to and vice versa.
We have significant experience of evaluating programmes aimed at improving leadership and management skills within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We recently completed the National Leadership and Management Programme evaluation for the Learning and Skills Council National Office and the South West Regional Leadership and Management Programme evaluation for LSC Wiltshire and Swindon.
In addition, we have experience of evaluation assignments in relation to the Investors in People Standard. Recent projects include the
Evaluation of the Small Firms Initiative (SFI) for the LSC National Office, which aimed to increase the uptake of the Investors in People Standard amongst small firms, and the Evaluation of the Investors in People Standard in
Wales for the
former Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills.