CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL REPORT
This report presents the main findings from Phase 2 of the national evaluation of the 2014-2020 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme in England. The study was led by Hatch Consulting, with Belmana leading quantitative strands of analysis.
The Interim Evaluation, undertaken during 2020, focused on the emerging evidence of the economic outcomes and impacts which had started to be realised through the delivery of ERDF projects across England. The report provides evidence up to the end of 2019, although a snapshot of delivery performance for the programme is provided up to Quarter 3 2020.
Belmana led the counterfactual impact analysis, tracking the performance of thousands of supported businesses and, separately, looking at the effects of some place interventions on businesses. The study’s findings are also based on desk-based analysis; consultations with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) – now Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) – policy and delivery staff; a review of approximately 80 project-level evaluations known as summative assessments; and interviews with around 4,200 businesses who have received support from the programme.