See the latest news from SQW Consulting below, or click on the archive links to view news from previous years.
Oct 2008 – Final evaluation of neighbourhood management
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published the final reports from the national evaluation of the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders. The evaluation was delivered by a team of universities and consultancies led by SQW Consulting. Undertaken from 2002 to 2008, it represents the largest study of neighbourhood management in the UK. The two main reports published were as follows:
- The Final Evaluation of the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders – People, Places and Public Services: Making the Connections – This report draws together the six year evaluation of the 35 Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders, summarises the evidence and offers final conclusions.
- Neighbourhood Management: Beyond the Pathfinders: A National Overview – The second report looks beyond the Pathfinders at the nature and extent of neighbourhood management across England. It draws on a national survey of local authorities, an evidence review and new case studies.
A theme report on community cohesion and neighbourhood management has also been published. All of the reports of the national evaluation from the last six years can be found on the project website: http://www.sqw.co.uk/nme/
Oct 2008 – Impact of Regulation on Productivity
In Iight of HMG’s productivity commitments and the available evidence, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), commissioned independent research to improve understanding of the impact of regulation on productivity, growth and competitiveness.
Five short projects were commissioned, covering a number of research topics including: transmission mechanisms through which regulation impacts on productivity, the impact of domestic regulation on productivity, and behavioural responses to changes in regulation. One of these studies was the SQW Consulting study, Lessons from environmental and other regulations on the role of technology, which is based on some previous case studies for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and a review of the relevant literature.
The Report is available at http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file48147.pdf
Sep 2008 – Broadband in the Home: An Analysis of the Financial Costs and Benefits
The Post Office has published SQW’s report examining the financial costs and benefits of broadband in the home. The research considers the costs and cash benefits to households at different income levels, from the use of broadband internet to search for, compare and purchase products and services at a more beneficial rate than is typically achieved offline. The study also highlights the less tangible, but no less real, wider benefits to the household, in terms of improved employment prospects, education, communication and entertainment, and access to public services. Overall, we estimate that the third of UK households which are not yet online are foregoing direct financial benefits of approximately £4.4 billion per annum. On average, a household’s investment in broadband internet access (including a computer) would pay for itself within about six and a half months. To read the report, click here.
Jul 2008 – Evaluation of Able to Work: Realising Potential
SQW Consulting was commissioned in May 2007 by the Department for Work and Pensions to carry out an evaluation of the Able to Work: Realising Potential Pilots which aimed to engage employers and promote recruitment opportunities for people with health conditions and disabilities. As part of the project, two sets of training events were developed, in partnership with Employers’ Forum on Disability: one aimed at Jobcentre Plus staff, and the other at employers. The events for Jobcentre Plus staff were held for staff who work with employers to help them promote the business benefits of disability confidence. ‘Disability confidence’ is a new concept developed by Employers’ Forum on Disability to define the key characteristics of a company that is getting it right on disability issues. SQW’s evaluation has been concerned with the Jobcentre Plus events, and not the Employer Engagement Events. The aim of the evaluation was to assess the success of the Jobcentre Plus staff events, specifically looking at Jobcentre Plus staff perceptions of the training process, the practical actions that follow and the extent to which Jobcentre Plus staff benefit from their participation in the programme. To read the report, click here.
Jul 2008 – Assessing the impact of reviews of collaborative arrangements on higher education institutions
SQW Consulting was commissioned by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on behalf of the Quality Assurance Framework Review Group to undertake a review of the impacts, benefits, costs and risks associated with the various types of review of collaborative provision to which higher education institutions (HEIs) are subject. SQW found that there are many positive impacts for HEIs and their partners from the review processes associated with collaborative provision, including raising the profile of collaboration and strengthening partner relationships. Negative impacts included the number and frequency of different review processes and the overall costs associated with these, as well as the need to provide duplicate information in some cases. HEIs wanted a less burdensome approach to the review of collaborative provision and the concept of a ‘risk-based approach’ was raised, but there is no clear or consistent view across the sector on what this might comprise. The report informed the findings of phase three of the review of the Quality Assurance Framework, which was published in July 2008 and is available on the HEFCE website. To read the full report, please click here.
Apr 2008 – Northwest Business ICT Survey 2007
The Northwest Development Agency has published the findings from a major SQW/GfK NOP study into the exploitation of Information and Communications Technology by businesses in the Northwest. Based on a series of interviews with 2,000 business users of ICT and 200 ICT suppliers in the region, the report examines differences in ICT adoption and impact between sub-regions, rural vs urban areas, sectors and different sizes of businesses. SQW presented the study findings at the Northwest Research Conference in Manchester in April 2008.To read the report, click here.
Mar 2008 – Economic Impact of Glasgow Prestwick Airport
In March 2008, SQW Consulting’s report on the economic benefits of Glasgow Prestwick airport was launched by the Chief Executive of the airport and the First Minister, Alex Salmond. The report demonstrated the contribution that the airport makes to the Ayrshire and Scottish economy. This was not just the direct employment, but also included a survey of businesses who reported on the role that it plays in supporting their performance. This ranged from tourism, direct sales to the airport, access to markets and use of freight services. The launch of the report was covered by Scottish television and the press. To read the report, click here.
Feb 2008 – Award of North West Scholarships
Since 2003, SQW Consulting’s Manchester office has offered an annual scholarship to students undertaking postgraduate study at a North West university in an area relevant to the firm ‘s work. We are pleased to announce that two awards have been made this year, to Elise Kaye and Liam Connors, both at the University of Liverpool. Elise is studying for an MA in Geographies of Globalisation and Development and Liam for an MSc in Urban Regeneration and Management. The award includes a bursary of £1,000 to help finance their studies and the opportunity to develop links with the firm during their studies.
Jan 2008 – Analysis of HEIF 3 Institutional Plans
HEIF supports institutions to engage in a broad range of knowledge transfer activities with business, public sector and community partners, for economic and social benefit. HEFCE commissioned SQW Consulting to inform HEFCE, and other stakeholders, on the uses of HEIF 3 funds and the potential outputs. The study found that tentative conclusions could be reached about the planned use of HEIF 3 funding. The report concludes, however, that the plans were of limited value for sector-level information on activities and projected outputs. SQW separately made recommendations to HEFCE about improving the format of plans and these recommendations have fed into HEFCE’s work to develop requirements for HEIF 4 from 2008-09. To read the report, click here.
Jan 2008 – Impact Evaluation of Spinno Programme in 2001–2006
The Spinno programme, funded by the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs, is designed to promote knowledge exchange between universities and other organisations. In 2003, SQW undertook a mid-term review of the first round of Spinno funding and subsequently worked with the Ministry to design a process for appraising applications to the second round of funding. We were commissioned to evaluate the schemes’ operation and performance between 2001 and 2006 and to consider the implications for EU structural funds over the period 2007-2013. To read the report, click here.