Wavehill has been conducting an independent evaluation of the Jobs Growth Wales+ (JGW+) programme, part of the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee. Launched in April 2022 (initially to run to 2026), JGW+ has aimed to significantly enhance the employability prospects and wellbeing of young people aged 16 to 19 who are assessed as not in education, employment, or training (NEET) on joining the programme.
JGW+ offers tailored training, development, and employability support, equipping participants with the skills, qualifications, and experience needed to progress to employment, apprenticeships, or higher learning. The programme also benefits employers by providing a wage subsidy of up to 50% of a young person’s employment costs at the National Minimum Wage for the first six months.
Our evaluation focuses on the delivery, performance, and outcomes of the programme, reviewing data to establish a framework for impact evaluation. The findings and lessons learned from this evaluation will inform future policy and programme development. It builds on previous evaluation work we have undertaken including the Jobs Growth Wales in 2016 and Jobs Growth Wales 2 in 2020, the pre-cursor to JGW+.
The interim evaluation reports impressive outcomes. Of the participants surveyed, 95% reported improved employment prospects after completing the programme and 93 per cent felt an increased chance of gaining permanent employment. Employers reported the JGW+ subsidy enabled their programme participation and for some, had enabled them to take on a staff member. Most employers felt JGW+ met their needs.
Additionally, 82% of surveyed participants noted that the training allowance eased their financial pressures. The programme also had a positive impact on mental health and life satisfaction, with 82% of participants feeling more satisfied with their lives and 81% reporting increased happiness.
Furthermore, 68% of participants achieved positive outcomes within four weeks of leaving the youth employment programme, transitioning into higher-level learning, employment, or apprenticeships. One participant shared, "They’ve gotten me in with CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) and helped me find social skills, gave me lots of confidence, and I left with a voice."
Wavehill's evaluation underscores the success of the JGW+ programme in supporting young people across Wales, providing them with essential skills and opportunities for a brighter future. Amongst participants, nine in ten felt that JGW+ support had met or exceeded their expectations whilst three quarters felt there was no way support could be improved.
We look forward to the publication of our final evaluation report in Spring 2025.
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