Research and analysis

Blaby UKSPF evaluation: interim findings

Updated 3 December 2025

Applies to England

Executive summary: Blaby interim findings

Introduction

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over four years (2022 to 2026), with all places in the UK receiving an allocation via a funding formula. Local decision-makers work with their local communities and partners to deliver interventions under three investment priorities: Communities and Place, Supporting Local Businesses and People and Skills.

This interim report presents the emerging findings from the place level evaluation of UKSPF in Blaby, based on research conducted between July 2024 and February 2025. It outlines the progress made to date and presents interim evaluation findings.

Key process evaluation findings

Intervention design

• Consultation activities ensured well-informed investment decisions and effective UKSPF portfolio design.
• Blaby District Council (BDC) aimed to align UKSPF interventions with the Council’s priority corporate objectives.
• Funding decisions were constrained by the time available to design and deliver UKSPF interventions, this meant it was not possible to progress some potentially impactful projects.

Portfolio implementation

• Although few eligible suppliers expressed interest during the procurement process, the applications received were high quality and met all requirements. From the council’s perspective, the limited interest was due to the niche nature of the requirements and the specialised skills expected of bidders.
• Delivery providers reported that the procurement process was clear and well organised.
• UKSPF interventions were carefully selected to fill gaps in the local service provision, or to expand existing service provision where there was already evidence of demand.

Intervention delivery

• The council’s role as a champion, actively supporting and advocating for UKSPF success, was identified as a positive factor by delivery providers. Equally important to project success is the relationship suppliers developed with local stakeholders.
• Partnerships with other councils enhanced the service offer for Blaby residents and has made it possible to deliver projects that would not have been feasible otherwise.
• Most delivery providers were confident in their skills and expertise to deliver UKSPF projects, though there were some examples of experience gaps that led to delays.
• For some providers, the available funding was insufficient to realise the full potential of their projects.
• Tight delivery timelines created pressure to mobilise resources quickly, impacting implementation.
• Limited public transport options hindered some potential beneficiaries from accessing UKSPF interventions.

Data collection and monitoring

• Delivery providers were required to closely monitor their projects to ensure project aims and objectives were achieved. However, the level of detail collected varied, with some tracking both outputs and outcomes.
• Consultees noted UKSPF was one of several support measures in a broader ecosystem. While output data was collected, tracing and attributing outcomes specifically to UKSPF projects was challenging and not required by their contract, consequently reporting focused on outputs and case study examples rather than agreed outcomes data.

Programme oversight

• A key lesson from the delivery of Year 1 and 2 UKSPF interventions is the importance of having a centralised system and a point of contact who brings together individual officers from different teams within the BDC working group.
• During the UKSPF design phase, investment decisions were decentralised and taken in different thematic teams, without an overarching view for the whole portfolio. This resulted in inconsistencies in the ways in which business cases were developed across the different teams.

Progress to date: expenditure, outputs and outcomes

Blaby received a UKSPF allocation of £2.1 million to cover delivery from 2022 to 2025. By the end of year 2, £425,000 had been spent, with £1.69 million allocated for year 3 projects.

In the first two years of delivery, ‘Communities and Places’ received the majority of expenditure (£275,000, 65%), followed by ‘Supporting Local Businesses’ (150,000, 35%). Revenue focused projects accounted for £352,000, representing 83% of the total expenditure in years 1 and 2.

UKSPF interventions in Blaby promoted active lifestyles and improved mental health, particularly among children. Physical activity referrals doubled to 1,340, and 34 new sporting group sessions engaged 230 individuals. A further 14 events targeted school children’s long-term attitudes towards physical activity. Mental health support in schools reached 54 pupils through 378 weekly one-to-one sessions, providing CBT and similar interventions for issues like anxiety and low self-esteem.

UKSPF provided 75 businesses and 18 entrepreneurs with non-financial support and funded 18 events/workshops, including job fairs and business breakfasts, attended by 916 people. Additionally an Economic Development Framework was developed to address local business challenges.

Early impact findings

Early evidence suggests that UKSPF projects in Blaby have contributed to increased physical activity and improved mental health, particularly in children. The Blue Prescribing, for example, helped participants manage stress and experience a greater sense of calm through participation in regular group sporting activities. Monitoring data from one-to-one mental health support sessions suggests that all surveyed children learnt new tools to manage their mental health and all said that they would recommend the services to their peers.

Early findings from a case study example shows how UKSPF business support helped a new business identify suitable target audiences, refine their business strategy, and build a customer funnel. Another case study demonstrates how a cleaning business expanded and entered new markets with UKSPF support.

However, evidence on impact remains limited, it is based on delivery provider feedback and a small number of case studies. The impact of UKSPF in Blaby will be explored in more depth in the final evaluation report.