By Gail Dervish of WCVA at the 2014 European Structural Fund events in Llanelli, Llandudno and Cardiff.

1. ILM

2. ILM – Achievements
Started delivery in 2009 – has supported 4180
participants on the projects
268 organisations delivered 305 different projects
2151 participants into work, it is too early to tell on the
ILM extension as participants are still with their
employers
Participants achieved 2062 qualifications of at least a
Level 1 NQF

3. Innovation
Over the lifetime of the project ILM has adapted to the changing economic
landscape and introduction of other Welfare to Work programmes.
In 2010 the ILM collaborated with the UK Government initiative Future Job
Fund creating 9 month placements for 16 – 24 year olds
In 2011 created a NEET Pilot scheme for 16 – 18 year olds, working in
collaboration with DfES and Communities First
2012 saw Jobs Growth Wales, Supported Employment delivered through the
ILM model
Finally in 2013 an ILM extension was agreed by WEFO and this was a chance
to look at how we could adapt the ILM to suit the changing landscape. The
grants being delivered now are for specific participant groups, Work Limiting
Health Condition, 50+, Lone Parents and ex-offenders all over 25.

4. Evaluation – The participants feedback
The survey of participants in 2012 found that:
90% (346/384) believed the ILM where they worked understood their
needs;
81% (310/384) believed they received the right sort of training at the ILM;
89% (340/383) believed they received enough support at their ILM job;
83% (318/383) believed the ILM matched their needs.
83% (145/174) of the respondents who were employed after exiting the
ILM programme felt it was the sort of job they wanted

5. Key lessons learned
Wavehill in their 2012 report made 11 recommendations. WCVA through the
ILM team has responded to all of these. Here is a sample:
Timeframes for procurement processes – the process has been scrutinised
and actions taken to speed this up from application to approval, now only
taking a matter of weeks.
The challenges of different participant groups – bespoke tenders for these
groups and the specific barriers they face and reacting to the changes in UK
and WG mainstream delivery ensuring that people do not fall though the
cracks.
Streamlining of data capture and processes. – within the constraints of a
European project WCVA have introduced a bespoke data capture system
(PDS) that has been pivotal in the way our suppliers work.

6. The Future – Achieve Wales
WCVA is working with WEFO to develop an operation to
work across West Wales and the Valleys and East Wales.
The operation is being asked to take a focused approach
to support the over 25’s and specifically Lone
Parents/Women returners, Work Limiting Health
Conditions, over 50’s, Ex-offenders and BME.
The project will interact with other projects within WCVA
and across the wider portfolio of EU funded projects in
Wales by tailored grants to regional and local
organisations that may not be able to access ESF funding

7. The Future – Achieve Wales
WCVA is working with WEFO to develop an operation to
work across West Wales and the Valleys and East Wales.
The operation is being asked to take a focused approach
to support the over 25’s and specifically Lone
Parents/Women returners, Work Limiting Health
Conditions, over 50’s, Ex-offenders and BME.
The project will interact with other projects within WCVA
and across the wider portfolio of EU funded projects in
Wales by tailored grants to regional and local
organisations that may not be able to access ESF funding