Case Studies

The Outsourcery team carried out a final project evaluation for the Plymouth University’s Digital Agri-Tech Accelerator project, a Community Renewal Funded programme providing innovation support to farms  and building an agri-tech alliance of businesses and organisations across Devon. The evaluation was effectively carried out in a very limited timeframe through initial data analysis, a series of stakeholder meetings and interviews, providing a robust report demonstrating progress and impact and strengthening successful bids for ongoing legacy funding.

“Outsourcery did superb work for us - and at such short notice" 

The Outsourcery team partners with DCTPN to build capacity and share knowledge in skills provision, locally and globally. International skills partnerships in Morocco and Nepal have enabled the specialist knowledge of the South West’s training providers to enhance policy and practices within training providers, employer networks and government departments. Partnerships have focused on building excellence in work based learning and apprenticeships, as well as technical training in key skills sectors, including advanced manufacturing and renewable energies, creating long term relationships that continue to benefit staff and students in Devon and Cornwall. 

Outsourcery are proactive within their local community, contributing

project and funding expertise to charities and community organisations. In 2023, we were able to support Buckland Hub in Newton Abbot, Devon: our team carried out an interim evaluation of a four year community partnership project, funded by the National Lottery Reaching Communities programme. Stakeholders meetings with the project team, local council officers, Citizens Advice Board, Housing Association, local community Police Officer, cafe and shop owners, Food Bank volunteers, local GPs and the residents and beneficiaries of the project informed our research. Within this evaluation process, Outsourcery were also able to draw out practical recommendations for the next phase of delivery and to help prepare for continuation of the project when its funding ends. Buckland Hub’s innovative approach to evolving social prescribing was presented within an Evaluation and Impact Report that the project team is now using to demonstrate their unique project value to local stakeholders and funders.​

“This was an exceptional piece of work created by an amazing team. I would highly recommend the work of Outsourcery Services” 

Outsourcery carried out interim and final evaluations of two Department for Education Strategic Development Funded projects: a pilot programme to establish a CIoS Green Technology Skills Centre and Green Technology Skills Pathways, and a second SDF programme of revenue and capital investment to strategically shape teaching and training provision and careers provision, Building Sustainable Futures for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. ​

"I had the pleasure of working with Fi and Helen as part of two large DFE evaluation reviews.  Their professionalism from the outset set the scene for a thorough and detailed review process that really captured the essence of both projects. Outsourcery dedicated time to really understand our business, they engaged with our stakeholders and met face to face with our Project team to inform their findings.  With such a wealth of knowledge of the educational sector, our final evaluation reports have been written and presented in such a manner that clearly details KPI compliances yet really showcases the legacy achievements realised by the College. We will certainly work with Outsourcery again and would have no hesitation in recommending their services." 

Outsourcery facilitated a new and innovative model of partnership mentoring, bringing together multiple UK partners, led by Devon & Cornwall Training Partnership Network. With our support, the project had the additional capacity to co-ordinate a team of experienced HE and FE experts and provide consistent and useful mentoring to Moroccan partners through exchange visits. This project built capacity in Higher Technical Training, incorporating innovative delivery methods and pedagogies to support higher technical learning in solar and wind renewables curriculum and has developed into exchanges of staff and students from South West UK to specialist technical colleges in Morocco.

"Congratulations to the whole team on the successful visit of the Moroccan delegation! Your hard work and dedication have made a huge impact on the overall organisation of the visits"

To advance the development of a regional Local Skills Improvement Plan, Outsourcery worked with a wide range of  partners, providing research, creative narrative and ideas generation, stakeholder interventions and events; enabling our client to produce a credible, responsive plan that builds and sustains stakeholder commitment

“We’re really happy with the way Outsourcery worked with us to create a ‘readable’ strategy that employers and stakeholders can identify with.  Developing the LSIP project, Outsourcery demonstrated that they not only have in-depth knowledge and understanding of the local FE arena, but that they are capable of capturing and analysing relevant data before translating it into meaningful, well presented, textualised documents. It's been a real pleasure working with Fi & Lianne and we would have no hesitation in using their services again"

Outsourcery worked with Plymouth City Council’s Skills team to co-create content and resources for the City’s Employer Hub, ensuring relevant and useful skills and training information and support is accessible to local businesses, employers and employees.

​"The Outsourcery team were a pleasure to work with throughout the Skills Launchpad Plymouth Employer Hub development. I felt very confident with their knowledge and expertise in delivering to the brief and they made it easy to stay on track to achieve tight deadlines with regular progress updates provided without prompting. I really appreciated Helen and Fiona’s attention to detail on creating the content and their super responsiveness, and it always felt that we were working as a team with a shared vision to deliver the best Employer Hub possible rather than a transactional relationship which resulted in delivery of a highly successful project. I highly recommend the brilliant Outsourcery team!"

Outsourcery’s skills expertise and knowledge of Plymouth’s social and economic challenges and opportunities provides valuable support to the City’s Post-16 Skills services. We have supported successful funding applications to the Department for Education to support Young People with special educational needs and disabilities, Apprenticeship Provider and Apprenticeship Register (APAR) and international programmes to enhance social mobility within the City. 

​

“Huge thanks to you for the creation of a really fantastic Evaluation for the Business Clusters project. It really has been a pleasure working with you on this. You have made the process very easy for us and our partners to engage with, with your friendly, patient and professional approach”

Outsourcery produced summative insights into the delivery and outputs of the College’s ESF Business Clusters programme as external evaluators supporting a partnership including Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, Cornwall Council, Cornwall Marine Network, Digital Peninsula Network, Kernow Health CIC, Software Cornwall and The Cornwall College Group. Evaluation activities commenced in the summer of 2022 and were undertaken by Outsourcery until the project ended in December 2023.

The evaluation sought to demonstrate relevance, consistency, progress, delivery and management, impacts and value for money of a programme with seven partners, engaging more than 600 small businesses. After a full review of project documentation and establishment of a firm knowledge base, Outsourcery worked with the Project Management Group and project partners to draw out critical details of delivery and progress. Focus workshops, formal review meetings, exploratory interviews and case study preparation activities took place over two years, leading to the creation of the Final Assessment Report and overall project Executive Summary. Annexes to support and evidence the evaluation included Priority Sector Case Studies, Business Survey and Delivery Partner and Employee Survey Results, Delivery Partner Workshop and Focus Group Sessions, REACH Cornwall Provision and Cross Cutting Themes.  Our clients were highly satisfied with our evaluation processes and results.​

“We found working with Outsourcery to be an excellent experience. The team have always been highly professional, knowledgeable, easy to work with and responsive and have worked collaboratively with us to ensure the final reports add real value and inform future activities.  Thank you once again for all your work on this, and for creating a really high quality and valuable evaluation”