Flexible workforce development fund: first year evaluation

Appendix A: Research Questions

The following research questions were specified in the Invitation to Tender.

Fund Management and Administration

• Is the FWDF well managed?
• How well does the application process work?
• What lessons can we learn from the first year of Fund implementation?

Colleges

• How well is the FWDF working for colleges?
• Do Colleges have adequately staffed and skilled business development departments to provide employers with the right support?
• What impact has the introduction of the FWDF had on college employer engagement?

Employers

• How well is the FWDF working for employers?
• How many employers accessed the fund?
• What are employers using the Fund for?
• Did training address employers’ skills gaps?
• To what extent are there sectoral / regional differences in how employers access the fund?
• To what extent is emerging employer demand being understood and met?
• How consistent is employer support?
• Did the FWDF meet employer expectations?
• Can employers easily access the Fund? Why are eligible (levy paying) employers choosing not to access the Fund?

Employees

• How well is the FWDF working for employees?
• How many employees were trained?
• To what extent does learning / training result in qualifications / certification gained?

Future Monitoring and Evaluation

• How should the long-term impact of the Fund be monitored and evaluated?
• What data are required to monitor and evaluate the impact of the Fund going forward?
• Are there any employer trends or indicators to help decide how a second phase of the FWDF is best delivered?
• Are there any recommendations around measuring Fund impact on productivity?
• Are there any success factors / examples of best practice?