UK Shared Prosperity Fund: outputs and outcomes definitions (2)
This page provides information on the outputs and outcomes definitions for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Summary
2.1 An provides the indicator definition and unit of measurement that corresponds to each output and outcome title. These definitions will continue to be refined and improved as the programme continues. Any amendments to the definitions will be managed, with the input of lead local authorities (LLAs), to minimise their impact on delivery.
2.2 We encourage LLAs to take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to determining the appropriate outputs and outcomes aligned to the interventions in their investment plan. Decisions on selecting outputs and outcomes are for LLAs to determine based on their experience of delivering similar projects and programmes, including through the Community Renewal Fund. Similarly, baseline data, along with the data collection and evidence to substantiate delivery, should also be proportionate to the interventions being supported and should be determined locally by the LLA working with partner organisations.
2.3 The outputs and outcomes provided by LLAs as part of the investment plan are indicative and MHCLG expect plans provided by LLAs to be refined as delivery progresses. This is reflected by the flexibility given to the process of refining outputs as part of the change control process for the Fund, see reporting, monitoring and performance management page. MHCLG recognises that outcomes are more challenging to define and therefore LLAs can continue to develop and amend these throughout delivery.
2.4 The outputs and outcomes definitions document also contains details of the specific changes that the LLAs need to make in recording their outputs and outcomes. LLAs do not need to make any of these adjustments until the first round of 6-monthly reporting. For the purpose of the investment plan, LLAs should continue to complete the indicative deliverables return as set out in the spreadsheet. The below changes will be made for the first round of 6-monthly reporting in May 2023:
Outputs:
- Amount of new or improved cycleways or paths (m2) – the unit of measurement will be changed from m2 to km.
- Levels of participation in sports and recreational activities at facilities that have benefitted from funding (based on registered players/teams) (% increase) – this output will be discontinued. If a LLA submits a figure for this output as part of the investment plan process, MHCLG will ask the LLA to choose an alternative output for the first round of reporting. This will not impact LLAs’ thresholds for change process.
Outcomes:
- Number of new to market products (numerical value) – the focus will be changed from the products to the businesses that introduced them.
- Enterprises introducing new products to the firm as a result of support - this outcome will be discontinued. If a LLA submits a figure for this outcome as part of the investment plan process, MHCLG will ask the LLA to choose an alternative outcome for the first round of reporting. Outcomes are not considered as part of change process.
- Number of new or improved community facilities as a result of support - this outcome will be discontinued. If a LLA submits a figure for this outcome as part of the investment plan process, MHCLG will ask the LLA to choose an alternative outcome for the first round of reporting. Outcomes are not considered as part of change control.
- Number of angel investors in the local area - this outcome will be discontinued. If a LLA submits a figure for this outcome as part of the investment plan process, MHCLG will ask the LLA to choose an alternative outcome for the first round of reporting. Outcomes are not considered as part of change control.
- Some outcomes that currently request a % (either increase or decrease) – the request will change from % to actuals from the first round of reporting.
2.5 The change in those outcomes which will move to an actual from a % will support MHCLG to better aggregate the outcomes and will streamline the requests for LLAs.
2.6 It is the responsibility of the lead local authority to collect and report outputs and outcomes to MHCLG through the reporting process detailed in Reporting and Performance Management.
2.7 The LLA should also collect baseline data (i.e. a recording of the output or outcome before the intervention has taken place). MHCLG will not provide baseline data, LLAs will be expected to source and identify such data themselves. For many outputs it will not be possible to provide a baseline recording, as by their definition it will be zero (e.g. amount of cycle paths completed). However, for outcomes it is important to record a baseline where possible, as these metrics are aiming to measure change caused through the programme.
2.8 LLAs should retain evidence that can substantiate outputs and outcomes. LLAs should seek to collect appropriate evidence to substantiate the baseline and post-intervention data.
2.9 A reported output must be a direct result of an intervention. For example, if a skills-related intervention was delivered, it is the number of recipients of that specific intervention that should be captured. MHCLG recognise that it may be more difficult to attribute and separate out the impact of the UKSPF on outcomes, which may be impacted through other channels other than UKSPF projects. For example, vacancy rates in an area may be impacted by general economic conditions. Therefore, the LLA should report as accurately as possible on the outcome(s) that the project is trying to achieve. Where it is possible to distinguish between outcomes that have been impacted through other channels in addition to the UKSPF, LLAs should avoid reporting those changes that are not the result of the UKSPF. Further details on evaluation and the approach to causal impacts are set out in Evaluation chapter.
2.10 Where an intervention’s causal outputs and outcomes feed directly into more than one UKSPF priority, the outputs and outcomes should be captured under the appropriate indicators. This means that if an intervention falls into more than one priority, LLAs should capture all outputs and outcomes across all/any relevant priority in 6-monthly reporting. For example, if an economically inactive person has attended a people and skills intervention course that has a built-in employment support component, this attendance can be captured under both ‘Number of people attending training sessions’ and ‘Number of people receiving support to gain employment’ output indicators.
2.11 If a LLA captures additional outputs and outcomes that relate to a different priority than those directly related to the intervention undertaken, MHCLG ask LLAs to capture these in their 6-monthly returns. LLAs are also encouraged to record any additional outputs or outcomes that they deem relevant but have not been specified as indicators under any of the defined priorities.
2.12 LLAs do not need to choose or report on all indicators for the intervention chosen, only those which the LLA identify as relevant to the activity undertaken.
2.13 On occasions where two or more projects combined result in one output or outcome, the LLA should use its judgement based on attribution to decide where the relevant indicator’s reporting should sit. It is not considered double counting if the unit of measurement is different. The aim of this is to measure different elements of an output or outcome. For example, a new cycle way can, and should, be recorded under both the output indicators ‘total length of new or improved cycle ways’ and ‘number of new or improved cycle ways’.
2.14 A beneficiary of a project, e.g., an individual or business, may create more than one output or outcome to be counted against different indicators. For example, a single business may receive a financial grant as well as another type of support. In these situations, they should be recorded in all relevant outputs or outcomes and will not be considered double counting.
Updates to this page
Published 19 July 2022Last updated 8 March 2023 + show all updates
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Update to the outputs and outcomes spreadsheet in paragraph 2.1 to remove the percentage column in the outcome indicators table.
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Adding Welsh
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Added translation