Skills for Clean Growth: Evaluation - call for quotes

UWE Bristol, in collaboration with NatWest and West of England Combined Authority (WECA), are offering bespoke support for SMEs through the Skills for Clean Growth (SCG) programme.

SCG is a free business support programme for SMEs in the West of England to help drive the region's ambitions for clean and inclusive growth, as part of the Workforce for the Future programme.

The programme, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), will provide the skills and workforce development needed to support businesses in their transition to a low carbon economy. This includes access to a range of skills development, training and CPD - including the leadership skills needed to build a clean growth strategy; and the knowledge and tools to achieve sustainability.

We are looking for an external consultant to undertake an evaluation of this project, reviewing the successes, learnings and outcomes from the project.

This project started in September 2021 will end on 31 May 2023.

The project has a number of contracted output targets:

• 100 x 1:1 diagnostic sessions (online and in person) with SMEs to include skills assessments
• 100 x action plans developed that provide a roadmap for SMEs' development towards clean growth, leadership capacity and employee upskilling •75 learners attending leadership and practical skills training
• 25 learners accessing advanced level training
• 300 x learners invited to join the Clean Growth Skills Network

We are asking the appointed consultant to review the following areas, in addition to any others they may find appropriate:

• appropriateness of initial design
• progress against targets
• delivery and management
• outcomes and impact
• value for money
• lessons learnt

The project team will work alongside the consultant to identify all appropriate data and contact beneficiaries.

There is limited guidance, with the focus being on using the best evaluation technique for the funded project. We are looking for potential consultants to approach us with innovative ideas and have a particular focus on our target groups of SMEs.

Applications

Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of evaluating government funded projects, particularly projects working with our key target participants.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

• 1.Experience of:
• a.working with SMEs
• b.evaluating schemes targeting support for SMEs
• c.Working with government funding such as ERDF, ESF or similar
• 2.Delivery plan
• 3.Value for money

This information will need to be compiled into one document and submitted prior to the deadline. Please also provide us with your proposed fee for delivery of the above contract. There is a maximum budget of £19,000 committed for this work.

Please email this to cleangrowth@uwe.ac.uk no later than 17:00 on 21st March.