Cohort Survey of ESF Participants
The 2007-2013 England and Gibraltar European Social Fund (ESF) programme has been evaluated through a three wave longitudinal cohort survey of participants. The study is for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), an independent research organisation.
The main objective of the study was to evaluate programmes financed by ESF, although participants of other programmes funded by DWP and the Skills Funding Agency were also included in the research. The results of the survey will help the Government and the European Commission to plan future ESF employment and training programmes and to improve the services they provide.
The main aim was to provide evidence of the longer term outcomes of ESF participants. The study has also provided information on participant characteristics, expectations and experiences to complement existing management information data.
The survey comprised three waves, consisting mainly of telephone interviews supplemented by a small number of face-to-face interviews with more vulnerable individuals.
- The first wave was undertaken during spring and summer 2009 and consisted of 10,947 interviews (including 200 face-to-face interviews). The findings of the first wave were published on 20 July 2010.
- ESF Cohort Study Wave 1 (98.7KB)
- The second wave fieldwork commenced in January 2010 and included interviews with 7,400 of the participants from the first wave. The findings from the second wave were published in November 2010.
- ESF Cohort Study Wave 2 (1.78MB)
- The third wave started in August 2010 and the findings were published in August 2011. This report contains the findings from participants who responded to all three waves of the ESF Cohort Study, and used responses from all three interviews. While the Wave 1 and 2 reports focused upon the characteristics of participants, respondents’ experiences of the programme as well as outcomes, the purpose of the third wave was to provide information on the longer term outcomes of ESF provision. This wave also collected data related to sustainability to explore the integration of this cross-cutting theme into ESF provision. The report examines the involvement of ESF and match funded participants in training about green issues and the degree to which they are employed by organisations providing related products and services.
- ESF Cohort Study Wave 3 (1.6MB)
Below, we provide some more information about the study.
How were people selected to participate in the study?
Survey participants were randomly selected from databases held by DWP and the Learning and Skills Council (now the Skills Funding Agency) using random selection procedures. Participants previously signed a declaration permitting their information to be used in studies such as this when they registered for the scheme (for example ESF10).
Were people able to opt out of the survey?
Those selected to participate in the study were given the opportunity to opt out at any stage. Opting out of the survey had no effect on any benefits they were entitled to receive.
How were people contacted?
The selected participants were sent an advance letter explaining the scope and purpose of the study. They were then asked to participate in three telephone interviews, which lasted a maximum of 25 minutes each.
The first interview took place when they were still participating in work-relating training or had only recently left (between April and August 2009).
The second interview took place six months later, between January and March 2010, when most participants had completed the training.
A third interview took place between January and March 2011, to see whether any benefits from the ESF training were sustained over the longer term.
Some participants were able to opt for face-to-face, rather than telephone interviews. This provision was made available to disabled people or people who found it difficult to communicate over the phone.
What sort of issues does the survey look at?
The main aim of the survey was to look at the impact of provision on the skills and employment levels of participants.
The first interview reviewed the skills levels and employment status of participants before they took part in the programme. They also explored participants’ experiences of the training and support they received, and captured some of their background characteristics, such as language spoken at home, age and ethnicity, to help with analysis.
The second interview looked at changes in participants’ skills levels and employment status as a result of the programme. It also reviewed qualifications obtained through the training, as well as any work-related and other skills gained such as increased confidence and motivation.
The third interview looked at whether any changes in skills, employment status, confidence or motivation seen at the second interview were sustained for another year. It also looked for any further changes in participants’ skills levels and employment status as a result of the programme.
When did the survey take place?
Respondents were first interviewed between April and September 2009 after they had started their course, and approached again between January and March 2010 (Wave 2) and January and March 2011 (Wave 3) subject to consent to be recontacted.
Full interviews were conducted with 2,740 respondents in Wave 3.
What will happen to people’s data?
Data collected in the survey was anonymised. No identifying information was passed outside NatCen without the respondent’s express permission.
Because we would like to be able to review participants’ job outcomes in the future, after they have taken part in the third interview, survey participants were asked for permission to pass their name, gender, date of birth and address to the Department for Work and Pensions. Information about any other answers they have given in the survey have not been passed on to anyone else. All participants were able to refuse this request. Where they agree to it, and later change their minds, they will be able to withdraw consent at any stage.
Where can I find more information?
Information about NatCen can be found here: www.natcen.ac.uk