Individual Training Accounts: evaluation

Introduction

Evaluation Brief

In January 2022 the Scottish Government commissioned SQW and the Progressive Partnership (Progressive) to undertake an impact evaluation of the Individual Training Accounts (ITA) programme. The purpose of the evaluation was to explore how the ITA programme has been delivered since 2017 and the outcomes achieved by participating individuals.

The evaluation sought to explore the experiences of individuals and training providers in engaging with the programme, from application to course completion. It also aimed to find out to what extent ITAs have supported individuals to develop new skills, enter/re-enter the workforce, progress in their jobs or gain new jobs. The evidence gathered about the delivery and impact of ITAs should then inform future discussions about the programme.

Individual Training Account (ITA) Programme

The ITA programme was launched in 2017, replacing the Individual Learning Account (ILA) programme. This development reflected the Scottish Government's aim to: enhance the employment prospects of those in work or looking for work; equip people with the right skills to participate, and be successful within the labour market; and support employers by providing workers with opportunities to improve their work-related skills and qualifications. The programme offers eligible individuals up to £200 to access training and provides up to 18,500 funded places annually, at a cost of £3.5m per annum.

To be eligible for an ITA, an individual must be over 16 years old and either in receipt of (qualifying) benefits, or earning less than £22,000 per annum. Individuals can claim one ITA per year up to the value of £200. They must choose from a catalogue of training courses (which result in an industry recognised qualification / certificate) and which are aligned to the 2016 Labour Market Strategy and current Government priorities. ITAs cannot be used for any education or training which is a statutory requirement for an individual's employment. Employers cannot apply for an ITA on an individual's behalf. Where employers are also training providers, ITA funded training delivered by the employer cannot be delivered to their own employees.

The ITA programme is managed by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) who oversee the application process, training course provision and finance. SDS host the online ITA application portal through the My World of Work (MyWoW) website, SDS'online career information and advice service. They manage all training providers, ensure agreements are signed, assess and approve the courses on offer, audit delivery, and hold regular provider meetings to discuss any issues. SDS also process the funding claims from training providers. The SDS Customer Service team handle any queries from individuals and training providers on the ITA programme.

The ITA application process is as follows: applicants search for an ITA eligible course through MWoW. Once individuals have chosen a course, they apply using a link on the MWoW course page. Once their application is submitted, the applicant confirms their eligibility with a training provider within four weeks. It is the responsibility of the training provider to confirm the applicant's eligibility for the course, and collect and process the relevant documents (e.g. proof of income). The applicant then has 12 months in which to complete their chosen course. After the participant has completed the course, the training provider claims the value of the course, up to a maximum of £200 from SDS on the participant's behalf. Where the course cost exceeds £200, the individual pays the outstanding balance to the training provider.

Report Outline

The report presents findings from the evaluation, and is structured as follows:

• Chapter 2 provides an overview of the evaluation methodology
• Chapter 3 outlines the development of ILA/ITA programmes in Scotland up to the current model
• Chapter 4 presents the key issues from the literature review and provides international examples of similar programmes
• Chapter 5 describes the ITA programme profile
• Chapter 6 presents the findings on the marketing and motivations of participants to engage in the programme
• Chapter 7 reports on the operational aspects of the programme delivery, including application, eligibility and payment processes
• Chapter 8 discusses the impact of the ITA programme on participants' employability and wider skills
• Chapter 9 considers the evidence for programme improvement
• Chapter 10 concludes with the overall key findings from the evaluation
• Annex A – Analysis of the online survey
• Annex B – Analysis of the focus groups
• Annex C – References