Independent report

Response to the Employment Data Lab's analysis of Durham County Council's DurhamWorks programme

Published 9 July 2026

Our organisation

DurhamWorks, part of Durham County Council, supports young people to progress into education, employment and training. Between April 2016 and December 2023, we delivered a programme across three phases to over 11,700 young people aged 16 to 24 who were not in education, employment or training (NEET). This was funded through a total of £29 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).

County Durham is a predominantly rural county and has the largest population of any local authority in the North East of England. Many of its communities experience high levels of economic inactivity, low household incomes, health inequalities, as well as lower levels of skills and qualifications. DurhamWorks was designed to address barriers to progression experienced by young people and to connect them with local employment, education and training opportunities.

Several factors contributed to the success of the programme. A critical element was the partnership delivery model, which included voluntary and community sector organisations. This approach helped ensure that the diverse and often complex needs of young people across the county could be met. These needs included poor mental health, low confidence, limited skills and qualifications, a lack of work experience, and transport barriers. Each delivery partner brought specific expertise, and collectively, they offered a flexible and engaging programme that supported participants to progress into employment, education and training. Many of these partnerships, first established during the initial phase of the programme, remain in place to this day.

Engagement with local employers was another important success factor. County Durham has a business base dominated by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The use of a Learning, Working and Earning grant proved effective in encouraging employers to create paid job opportunities for young people participating in the programme.

The provision of one‑to‑one wrap‑around support was also essential. Participants were supported by Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)‑qualified advisers, who played a key role in engaging young people within their communities, identifying individual needs, and supporting them throughout their journey on the programme. This support helped participants progress into sustained employment, education or training.

Our response to the analysis

We welcome the findings of the Employment Data Lab’s independent analysis of the DurhamWorks programme, particularly the positive impact it had on employment, sustained employment, and participation in education and training.

Participants were between four and seven percentage points more likely to be in employment two years after starting the programme than comparable non‑participants, with impacts on continuous employment of between seven and ten percentage points. This provides strong evidence that the programme made a real difference to the lives of young people. The fact that positive employment effects were sustained for up to four years after programme entry for earlier cohorts also demonstrates that DurhamWorks delivered longer‑term labour market benefits for some participants.

We welcome the significant increase in education and training outcomes, with participants between 10 and 13 percentage points more likely to pass a course within two years of joining DurhamWorks. While caution is rightly urged in interpreting education‑related findings, we believe these results provide a strong indication that the programme was successful in re‑engaging young people with learning. The concentration of positive impacts at entry level, Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications should be considered a strength. DurhamWorks was specifically designed to support young people who were furthest from the labour market, many of whom lacked confidence, basic qualifications or prior positive educational experiences. Supporting these individuals to achieve foundational qualifications represents a crucial first step towards longer‑term progression into employment.

In this context, we consider it important that the reported reduction in Level 3 and above attainment is interpreted carefully. The participant cohort included proportionally fewer individuals already positioned to pursue higher‑level qualifications, and the programme’s focus was intentionally on addressing basic employability, skills gaps and immediate barriers. These outcomes, therefore, reflect appropriate targeting rather than a negative effect of the programme itself.

We also welcome the subgroup analysis, particularly the findings showing comparable positive impacts for both male and female participants, and stronger employment impacts for those experiencing labour market disruption during the COVID‑19 pandemic. These results underline the adaptability and resilience of the DurhamWorks delivery model during an unprecedented period. While impacts for participants with special educational needs were smaller and not consistently statistically significant, we recognise that this group faces deeper and more complex barriers, often requiring longer‑term or specialist interventions beyond the scope of a single employment programme.

Taken as a whole, the evidence provided by the Employment Data Lab strongly supports the conclusion that DurhamWorks delivered real and sustained benefits for young people in County Durham. The learning from this programme informed the design and delivery of subsequent provision funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund from January 2024 to March 2026, ensuring that DurhamWorks continues to shape local employment and skills support.