No means to attribute to intervention in absence of comparator group. control areas and use econometric analysis to identify additional effect of the intervention on outcomes, controlling for other factors. Number of comparators likely to be modest before intervention. Random allocation helps ensure similar treatment and control characteristics. Primary Research to Estimate Outcomes Capture data population and business surveys. Aggregation of data likely to be a challenge and sample sizes would need to be large. No means to attribute to intervention in absence of comparator group. Identify comparator areas with characteristics to the programme areas. Capture data on key variables using population and business survey. Sample size would need to be large for aggregation. Number of comparators likely to be modest so analytical power limited. Measure Change at the Beneficiary Level Observe Outcomes in Official Datasets beneficiaries to official datasets and observe change. No means to attribute to intervention in absence of comparator group. Match beneficiaries to official datasets and observe change. Replicate in control groups and use econometric analysis to look at the additional effect of intervention on outcomes, controlling for other factors. Primary Research to Estimate Outcomes Use of surveys and carefully designed interviews to determine change and to intervention. Replicate survey analysis in control areas and use of statistical analysis to look at additional effect on intervention on outcomes, controlling for other factors. Source: Regeneris Consulting In order to facilitate CIE methods, it is important that grant recipients gather the following information as a minimum: Information on the beneficiaries which can enable them to be identified in administrative datasets such as the IDBR (such as the company registration number in the case of businesses);
Main Focus on Individual Beneficiaries (but some SMEs beneficiaries possible) Business Formation and Entrepreneurship Business start-up support and activities to promote entrepreneurship. Includes enterprise coaching, social enterprise start up services, youth enterprise services and incubator facilities. Focused on creation of SMEs, so some business assists but also on individual entrepreneurs. Access to Employment Interventions to improve availability of and access to employment opportunities. Includes business premises in deprived travel schemes linking employment areas to deprived communities. Most likely to be individuals benefiting from interventions. Community Investments which appear to be aimed solely at community facilities, networks etc. Skills Development Investments aiming to improve skills and qualifications. be targeted towards particular groups. Individuals, possibly also SMEs employing individuals. Mostly Indirect Beneficiaries and Premises of capital investments to support the development of employment land and premises. Includes land remediation, business premises and JESSICA. Some SME beneficiaries but generally indirect recipients of ERDF through developer and operator of premises. Infrastructure Investment in specific infrastructure projects, examples include superfast broadband networks, station facilities and interchanges, flood defences, etc. Most interventions will have no direct beneficiaries but some (e.g. broadband) could have direct SME and individual beneficiaries. Investment Marketing Direct beneficiaries will be attracted as a result of investment promotion marketing. Complex pattern of impact and attribution. Could also be supply chain impacts and wider SME beneficiaries associated with landed businesses. Public Realm Investments in blue and green infrastructure. No direct beneficiaries. Individual and SMEs likely to benefit indirectly.
Table D.1 Linkage between Project Activity and Programme Investment Priorities Priority Axis Investment Priority R&I infrastructure and Business support Advice, Guidance and Finance for Start-ups Business Advice, Guidance and Finance for Established SMEs Business Related Infrastructure: Broadband Business Infrastructure: Land and Property Transport Infrastructure Other Infrastructure Low Carbon Generation Resource and Energy Efficiency Community Led Local Development 1 1a xx x 1b xx x x 2 2a xx 2b x xx 3 3a xx x 3c xx 3d x xx 4 4a x x xx 4b x x xx 4c x xx 4e x x x 4f x xx x x 5 5b xx