Year 1 interim evaluation of the Somerset Education Business Partnership’s project to connect local employers and local education providers

Barker, Jacqueline

Abstract

In October 2022 Somerset Council received a 4-year grant from the Magnox Socio Economic fund. This grant supports Somerset Education Business Partnership’s (SEBP) aim “to connect local employers with local education providers to ensure young people are aware of local career opportunities and equipped to access these.”

SEBP had the following objectives for the project:
• To increase education outreach activity among local employers so they are better able to meet their future skill needs.
• To ensure young people are aware of quality local employment opportunities and equipped to access these.
• To increase the opportunities available and accessible to young people facing the greatest barriers to progression.

To achieve the project aim and objectives, SEBP planned the following annual activities:
• 1 X large scale engagement event showcasing local employment and study opportunities.
• 10 X sector specific workplace insight events.
• 10 X influencer briefings.
• 2 X workplace experience opportunities for 6X vulnerable learners.

SEBP contracted with the University of the West of England (UWE) to evaluate the outcomes associated with the project activities and provide an assessment of the extent to which the project aim and objectives have been met. The evaluation combines the existing SEBP assessments of each activity (e.g. the numbers of young people who attended, and their experience of the event) with longitudinal assessments each year for the 4 years of the project. This evaluation report covers only those SEBP activities where there is a possibility of assessing impact and during the first year of the project.

• Report Type: Consultancy Report
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: Sep 26, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 28, 2023
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11139261