England ESF Programme 2007-2013: Evidence Synthesis

This document summarizes the evaluation of the England European Social Fund (ESF) Programme from 2007 to 2013, which aimed to enhance employment opportunities and address economic and social imbalances in the EU. The evaluation, conducted by ICF Consulting Services Ltd and using a combination of desk-based review, interviews, and performance data analysis, found that the programme successfully exceeded its targets for participant numbers and outcomes, particularly benefiting individuals with disabilities, females, and those gaining employment and qualifications. However, it struggled to engage lower-skilled and inactive participants and faced operational challenges such as staffing reductions and delayed studies. While the evaluation reports were of good quality, with a focus on process evaluation, they lacked in-depth analysis of the programme's additional impact and cost-effectiveness. Recommendations for future programmes include clearer evaluation guidance, better sharing of learning, and maintaining adequate staffing. The evaluation concluded that the programme was valuable but highlighted areas for improvement and the need for a more effective evaluation strategy for the subsequent programme period. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: Department for Work and Pensions
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Impact evaluation; Process evaluation
• Impact methods: Generic research method
• Process methods: Individual interviews
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: May 2016

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes