MONITORING & EVALUATION
Evaluation is an essential part of economic development, assessing the performance of projects and programmes compared to costs, and indicating areas for improvement. It ensures that money is being spent efficiently and effectively, and provides evidence of impacts.
BiGGAR Economics has undertaken numerous evaluations of programmes and projects across the UK. Our approach involves detailed analysis of inputs and outputs using information from grant application forms, consultations with funders and survey work. In particular we work closely with the beneficiaries of projects/programmes, communities themselves, to assess the wider impact of the intervention and whether it has produced additional benefit.
PROJECTS
- evaluation of North West Development Agency's Innovation Vouchers, designed to increase the propensity of businesses to work with universities, colleges and other knowledge providers and to encourage innovation in the regional economy;
- evaluation of the Scottish Semi-conductor Supplier Forum, a Scottish Enterprise supported, industry-led initiative to support the development of companies in the semi-conductor sector;
- ex-post economic impact assessment of the relocation of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders;
- review of activities and benefits to date, and diversification opportunities in the future, for the Forss Business and Technology Park near Dounreay in Caithness, which is currently filled with organisations engaged in the nuclear decommissioning sector;
- evaluation of Scottish Enterprise Tayside's Expert Support Programme, to determine its overall value and the impact on participating businesses and on the Tayside economy;
- an evaluation of the Edinburgh Science Triangle as it developed from a science park collaborative marketing project to a science community development initiative;
