What the Liverpool City Region did to tackle unemployment and economic inactivity

Wavehill delivered a final evaluation of the Ways to Work programme on behalf of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to understand programme performance, outcomes and delivery learning. The work combined process and impact evaluation with forward looking insight to inform future employability provision across the City Region.

A mixed methods approach was used to build a robust evidence base including reviewing a largescale monitoring dataset (over 38,000 participants), a survey of 374 participants using a stratified sample and consultations with over 60 stakeholders.

The evaluation showed how delivery operated through a structured but flexible model, which approach enabled delivery teams to respond to local context while maintaining a shared programme framework. Analysis of performance and outcomes demonstrated scale and reach across the City Region and participant feedback added depth to the quant findings. Evidence showed improvements in confidence, optimism and readiness for work, alongside progression into roles across a range of sectors. Many participants reported continued employment and progression over time.

The evaluation provided a detailed understanding of how delivery models, partnerships and support mechanisms operated at scale across a complex City Region system, identifying best practice and areas for improvement. It combined quantitative performance data with lived experience from participants, employers and delivery teams to provide robust findings. The recommendations left a clear evidence base to inform future programme design, supporting the development of coordinated employability provision and shaping successor programmes across the City Region.