European Social Fund Objective 3: The 2005 beneficiary survey for England
Research Report No. 376
by Andy Cubie and Oswin Baker
This report examines expectations, experiences and outcomes for beneficiaries of European Social Fund (ESF) Objective 3 training in England. It presents data from two waves of longitudinal research carried out in 2005. The first was conducted with beneficiaries while they were enrolled on an ESF-funded course, and the second wave was conducted with the same beneficiaries once they had left their course.
The findings reveal that ESF-funded training courses have been successful in targeting beneficiaries who face a wide range of potential labour market disadvantages. It also shows that beneficiaries' expectations of their courses are generally met, and that gains and improvements appear to be relatively well-focused on key groups of beneficiaries. There is also a positive move from unemployment to employment for many beneficiaries, with employment rising by nearly half over the course of the study and unemployment falling in a proportionally similar manner.
However, employment outcomes and skill gains for people who were not in work or education å? or actively seeking employment å? when they joined their course were not as marked, indicating that ESF-funded courses may need to focus on these beneficiaries' training needs more effectively.
Drawing on over 6,000 interviews, the report presents a wealth of information for anyone seeking to better understand the effectiveness of large-scale training programmes.
August 2006
ISBN 1 84712 059 8
