Social Research ¦ Market Research ¦ Behavioural Insight ¦ Evaluation ¦ SROI
Social Research ¦ Market Research ¦ Behavioural Insight ¦ Evaluation ¦ SROI
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) launched its ‘Skills for Employment’ initiative, which outlined a plan to invest more than £2m over three years to help businesses recruit more easily to fill skills shortages, enable young people to gain skills and attributes employers require and to create sustainable partnerships between businesses and education providers.
In order to evaluate the impact of the ‘Skills for Employment’ initiative WCC commissioned M·E·L Research to conduct qualitative research with education providers (schools and colleges) and businesses. The research objectives were to gather additional facts and data on the impact of the programme; obtain feedback on awareness of the programme; obtain feedback on the administration of the programme; ascertain what specific difference (if any) it has made to young people, education providers and businesses.
Semi-structured discussion guides were developed for both education providers and businesses that sought to identify the required information to meet the research objectives. Qualitative telephone interviews were then conducted typically lasting between 15 and 20 minutes.
As a second stage and additional commission, we subsequently undertook journey interviews with learners. These were videod and undertaken by specialist qualitative interviews.
Following the evaluation, WCC recommissioned M·E·L Research to undertake 10 learner journey case studies with students to illustrate the direct impact Skills for Employment had on their successful progression to Further or Higher Education, or employment. M·E·L Research’s findings and videos of three young people were showcased at the latest Skills for Employment Conference to describe the journeys they’ve taken in the past 18 months to gain employment, or to get on the right track for a career that suits their skills, aptitudes and ambitions.
