Innovas Consulting has recently begun work on the second phase of the two year evaluation of theKirklees Youth Enterprise Centre(KYEC), a £5m part-ERDF project including the construction of an enterprise centre and provision of support and finance to young people looking to start a business.

The centre forms part of the Creative & Media Studio School at Netherhall Learning Campus in Huddersfield and seeks to create an enterprise hub for the creative & media sector. The project provides young people aged 14-19 years and living in Kirklees with access to test trading facilities and business planning support, with the potential to receive start-up grants of up to £5,000 and one-to-one business support and mentoring for individuals whose business propositions are approved by a “Dragons’ Den” style panel of local business people.

The evaluation is taking place over three phases, culminating in a final report in June 2015 when the project comes to an end. The first phase of the evaluation was completed in July 2013. This set out the overall evaluation framework and provided an initial assessment of project progress. Among the objectives of the evaluation are to review the effectiveness of project implementation in meeting its objectives, to assess its ongoing relevance, to measure the impact of the project on young people and to identify lessons for the future.

The work adds to Innovas’ track record in evaluating ERDF schemes and those focused on stimulating enterprise among young people. Other recent assignments include developing ERDF low carbon investment propositions for three Local Enterprise Partnerships in the West Midlands and an analysis of entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviour as part of Welsh Government’s ERDF Big Ideas Wales youth enterprise project.