Independent Evaluation Reveals Life-Changing Impact for Nottinghamshire’s Economically Inactive

A newly published independent evaluation has confirmed the powerful and positive impact of the “Transform Your Future” programme in supporting Nottingham and Nottinghamshire residents to overcome barriers to employment, education, and training.

Delivered by Futures in partnership with local voluntary sector organisations, the programme targeted individuals who were economically inactive, those not engaged in work, education, or training, and not required to seek work as a benefit condition. This group included people with long-term health conditions and disabilities, unpaid carers, refugees, and young people facing social exclusion due to mental health challenges.

Programme Overview

Launched in November 2023 and running through April 2025, Transform Your Future was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and operated across Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Rushcliffe, and Nottingham City. The programme provided holistic, locally tailored support, including access to basic skills, careers advice, and personal budget allowances to help participants move closer to the labour market.

Key Achievements

Overachievement on Most Targets

The independent evaluation, conducted by Richard Hazledine of ConnectMore Solutions, found that Transform your Future not only met but exceeded most of its operational targets:

1,030 participants engaged with Careers Advisors (114% of target)
1,015 participants received support to gain employment (134% of target)

Note: “Support to gain employment” refers to participants starting their journey towards work, not necessarily securing a job. This is an output, not an outcome.

590 participants accessed basic skills support (211% of target)
476 participants accessed physical and mental wellbeing resources (355% of target)
892 participants engaged in life skills courses (104% of target)
167 participants supported into volunteering roles (184% of target)

While the programme excelled in engaging and supporting participants, it faced challenges in achieving sustained employment outcomes over six months (47% of target), largely due to the limited programme duration.

Demographic Reach

Participants reflected the diversity of Nottinghamshire:

Average age: 26.4 years
Gender: 54.8% male, 42.4% female, 2.8% other
Ethnicity: 45.7% White British, 54.3% from other backgrounds (with detailed breakdowns provided in the evaluation)

Person-Centred, Flexible Support

Qualitative feedback from Careers Advisors and voluntary sector partners highlighted the programme’s flexible, person-centred, and mentor-based approach. Advisors praised the value of the personal budget allowance, though many felt the £50 cap was too low. The importance of volunteering as a confidence-building step towards employment was also strongly emphasised.

Economic and Social Value

Case studies in the evaluation illustrate not only personal transformation but also significant savings and contributions to the public purse. For example, one participant’s journey from benefits to employment as a cycling instructor was estimated to generate nearly £9,000 in annual savings and tax contributions.

Key Learning and Recommendations

The updated evaluation provides a richer set of recommendations and learning points for future programmes:

Develop Distance-from-Labour-Market Metrics:
Introduce baseline and progress measures (e.g., past employment history, qualifications, volunteering experience, health conditions) to better evidence participant journeys and programme impact.
Strengthen Partnerships and Data Sharing:
Build formal referral pipelines and data-sharing agreements with key partners (e.g., NHS, housing associations, community organisations) to improve identification and engagement of economically inactive individuals.
Extend Programme Duration:
Future programmes should run for a minimum of 2–3 years (ideally 3–5 years) to allow sufficient time for participant progression and to achieve sustained employment outcomes.
Segment and Define Participant Cohorts:
Provide clearer definitions and worked examples of “economically inactive” to support staff induction, referral building, and evaluation.
Rethink Target Setting:
Create targets that enable operational comparison and benchmarking acros areas, and adjust profiling based on the latest data to avoid massive over- or under-performance.
Balance Employment and Volunteering Outcomes:
Recognise and value volunteering as a valid and valuable outcome, especially for those further from the labour market. Commissioners should ensure both pathways are supported and monitored.
Increase and Standardise Personal Budget Allowance:
Raise the personal budget cap above £50 and ensure all Careers Advisors and partner organisations can access this resource for their participants.
Address Digital Inclusion:
Do not assume all participants have digital skills. Provide non-digital engagement options and offer digital upskilling as part of the programme.
Acknowledge Regional Variation and Workforce Development Needs:
Recognise that economically inactive cohorts differ from NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) groups, and that regional differences (e.g., ESOL needs in Nottingham City, retraining in former coalfield areas) require tailored approaches. Develop hybrid Careers Advisors able to work across both NEET and economically inactive cohorts.

“Working with my Careers Advisor on the Transform Your Future programme has given me the opportunity to do something I have always wanted to do. Not many people can say they will be able to earn a living from something that they enjoy and Futures has enabled me to do this. I believe lots of people could benefit from the scheme.”

“I was lost… You gave me that push, that focus, and we found that, actually, the best career for me was the one I was successful in and that was green keeping… I wouldn’t be where I am today without this help.”

Despite operating on a tight timeline, Transform your Future has demonstrated the power of holistic, locally tailored support to help people overcome complex barriers and move towards brighter futures.

The evaluation’s findings will inform future programmes and policy discussions, ensuring that more people across Nottinghamshire can benefit from this life-changing approach.

“The results of the Transform your Future programme are a testament to the strength of partnership working and the commitment of our teams. By focusing on tailored, person-centred support, we have helped hundreds of residents across Nottinghamshire take their first steps towards brighter employment prospects. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone involved and look forward to building on this success to reach even more people in need.”

Download the full report here (454 KB)

Empowering Mansfield Through Personalised Support

7th November, 2025

Celebrating our 2023 successes – and preparing for a brilliant 2024!

15th January, 2024

News & Events