We carried out an interim evaluation of Sheffield’s LEGI Programme, a £20m initiative to help people from deprived areas overcome the barriers they face to either starting or growing a business. LEGI is a local private sector-led scheme that set out to drive up local business competitiveness and attract new enterprises to challenging areas of the UK.
Our work assessed the impact of the programme against its original policy objectives and involved a comparative review of progress in similar areas. Our approach involved extensive interviews and surveys with businesses and individuals helped by the programme, consultation with delivery agencies, and wider soundings among stakeholders. Our review concentrated on the role of the board in governing the programme and setting its strategy, assessing the focus of investments and evaluating the impacts and performance of the schemes invested in.
Our recommendations were used to refocus the final phase of the delivery, improve co-operation between the projects and focus efforts most on those aspects of the services which generated greatest value for customers.
An evaluation of a major business support programme in Sheffield.
Sheffield City Council