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Evaluation of the North east Entrepreneurs Forum
What our client wanted
The North East Entrepreneurs Forum was established by leading North East entrepreneurs in 2002 with the aim of providing a network of business support, advice and training by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. The mission has been to “help and inspire entrepreneurs in the North East to grow the most successful business possible.” The Forum seeks the high-profile engagement of experienced business leaders with enthusiasm for supporting entrepreneurs at the beginning or part-way along their enterprise journey.
In September 2009, ekosgen was commissioned by ONE North East (ONE) to undertake a summative and formative evaluation of the Forum’s primary activities. The evaluation was commissioned towards the end of its funding contract and it was required to take stock of programme achievements and progress to date, identify learning points to maximise impact and make recommendations for potential future delivery. The evaluation had a particular focus on the Forum’s strategic leadership role, alignment with existing enterprise activity, leverage and entrepreneur engagement.
What we did
Primary research took two main approaches. Consultations were conducted with a wide range of stakeholders involved in delivery and strategy. Secondly, there was an emphasis on seeking the views of entrepreneurs, and this was researched through an e-survey sent to over 2,000 members of the Forum plus other individuals that have participated in Forum activities.
Secondary research covered: financial and output performance; policy review; and a profile of the enterprise characteristics of the North East utilising a range of published sources. Using management information and survey findings, calculations were undertaken to determine the net economic impact of the Forum, taking account of additionality and multipliers. Similarly, the final report provides structured findings around strategic added value for those programme impacts that are difficult or impossible to quantify. A review of best practice was incorporated into the report to inform future options.
What difference we made
The survey results and analysis, and qualitative feedback constituted the main evidence base to record impact of the programme’s existing phase, as well as shaping future activity. The final report was completed in time to inform development of bidding documents for a further phase of Forum funding.
Recommendations from the report were adopted by ONE North East to improve strategic added value, particularly around improved partnership working, referrals and Memoranda of Understanding. Practical recommendations were put forward around developing a more rigorous monitoring evaluation framework, supporting the programme in establishing value for money.
The Forum continues to operate today, now in its ninth year and the evaluation findings helped it to manage through a year of transition in terms of funding and political structures in the North East as elsewhere. It maintains a high level of interest among the region’s most prominent entrepreneurs, and the evaluation best practice review has helped it to adapt and consider the full range of options available to the Forum, and the services it can offer.