Evaluation Support

Training

There are several evaluation training courses available. You can find a list of some of the available courses on GOV.UK.

Guidance

There are also many pieces of written guidance that may help you develop your skills in evaluation. You can find a list of some of these resources on GOV.UK.

You may also find the following resources useful:

• the Magenta Book – guidance from His Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) about what to consider when designing an evaluation
• the Magenta Book Annex A – guidance about analytical methods for use in an evaluation
• the Government Analytical Evaluation Framework – this is used to assess knowledge and skills needed at each stage of evaluation activity
• a video recording of the ‘Importance of evaluation across government’ webinar from Analysis in Government Month 2021
• a video recording of the ‘Evaluation of Complex Policies’ webinar from Analysis in Government Month 2021
• a video recording of the ‘Evaluating government spending’ webinar from the Centre for the Evaluation of Complexity Across the Nexus (CECAN)
• a video recording of an ‘Introduction to the Magenta Book 2020’ presentation
• a blog post featuring ‘Five things you didn’t know about evaluation’
• a video from the What Works initiative called ‘Empirical Government – Finding out What Works in public policy’

If you would like to share any resources that would be useful for other analysts, please contact us at Evaluation.Support@Statistics.gov.uk.

Evaluation support

There are several teams that can provide additional support with your evaluation.

Evaluation Task Force (ETF)

The ETF provide support for whole departments. They can help:

• provide advice and support to HMT Spending Teams, on the evidence and evaluation plans that support department’s spending proposals – this helps to inform HMT spending decisions
• provide advice and support to government departments on designing and delivering robust, impact evaluation
• encourage and challenge departments to be transparent with their data and evaluation plans and findings
• build relationships with important stakeholders across government to promote evidence-based policy – this includes working with the policy, analytical and finance professions

You can find out more about the ETF on GOV.UK. You can email the team at ETF@CabinetOffice.gov.uk.

Cross Government Evaluation Group (CGEG)

The CGEG prompts conversations about demand, supply, and promotion of good practice. They:

• encourage the demand and supply of good quality evaluation evidence in government
• run a cross-disciplinary evaluation group with representation from most major departments
• concentrate on activities that benefit from working together across government
• organise regular networking sessions that encourages members to share good

You can contact CGEG by emailing GESR.Enquiries@HMTreasury.gov.uk. Please include ‘CGEG in the subject line of your email.

Support from Government Professions

The Government Social Research (GSR) Profession and the Government Economic Service (GES) can also offer support with your evaluation.