Social and Economic Research Consultancy - Step Ahead Research
Monitoring & Evaluation

Monitoring & Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation is a fundamental part of the project cycle.  Step Ahead’s consultants can provide you with independent, tailored monitoring and evaluation support to gather robust evidence of “what works and why”.  This may relate to a project, a funding programme, a policy, or a strategy. 

The support we offer includes:

  • project appraisal using Treasury Green Book principles;
  • monitoring and evaluation framework development;
  • formative evaluation – to identify how, why and under what conditions a policy or project works;
  • summative evaluation – to identify the short, medium and longer-term impacts of a policy or project;
  • value-for-money assessments and cost-benefit analysis;
  • good practice review and case study development.

Examples of our work include:

  • a formative and summative evaluation of the Brighton & Hove’s EQUAL programme, a two year, multi-agency programme aimed at improving the employability of people from under-represented groups in Brighton and Hove.

  • an evaluation of the South East Workforce Skills Programme for the RDA involving depth interviews, desk research and the development of best practice case studies. The study contributed to the DfES’ review of the funding of adult learning.

  • an interim evaluation of the Co-operative Education Trust Scotland’s “Co-operate to Succeed” Pilot Project.  Our report focussed on the best model for establishing the Trust as a long- term sustainable organisation, and informed the future development of the Trust.

  • a formative evaluation of the ‘North West Business College’ programme for the North West Learning and Skills Councils. This was aimed at assisting colleges to become more employer focussed  through self-assessment, development planning and capacity building.

  • an interim evaluation of the Renewable Energy for Devon Project (RE4D) project and develop actions for the remainder of this pilot project which would inform the roll-out of any further RE4D projects.
Our Expertise
 

Our clients have included:

Government Office for the North East

Brighton and Hove EQUAL Partnership

North West Learning and Skills Council

Renewable Energy for Devon (RE4D)

Co-operative Education Trust Scotland (CETS)

Devon Economic Partnership

East Sussex Economic Partnership

Kent Learning and Skills Council