Qualitative evaluation of demand-led skills solutions: Standards and frameworks

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills commissioned a qualitative evaluation across a range of investments, including the standards and framework programme, which procures the development of National Occupational Standards (NOS) products, apprenticeship framework products and Vocational Qualification (VQ) products. The evaluation was undertaken from November 2012 to April 2013. It was based primarily around a qualitative case study approach. There were 10 case studies looking at standards and frameworks products (five National Occupational Standard case studies; four Apprenticeship framework case studies; and one Vocational Qualification case study) and 10 case studies on projects funded through the Growth and Innovation Fund Rounds 1 and 2 (GIF) and Employer Investment Fund Phase 2 (EIF). There are two evidence reports: one presents the findings of the standards and frameworks case studies; and a separate report presents the findings from the research undertaken on the GIF and EIF investment programmes.