Research and analysis

East Riding of Yorkshire UKSPF evaluation: impact and value for money findings – executive summary

Updated 28 August 2026

Applies to England

Introduction

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was launched by the UK Government in April 2022. It provided £2.6 billion funding for local investment by March 2025, with an additional £900 million available for 2025-26. Local decision-makers worked with their local communities and partners to deliver interventions under three investment priorities: Communities and Place, Supporting Local Businesses, and People and Skills. UKSPF empowered places to identify and build on their own local strengths and needs, with a focus on enhancing community pride and increasing life chances.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council received £10.4 million of UKSPF funding across the three investment priorities: Communities and Place (£4.1 million), Supporting Local Businesses (£3.2 million), and People and Skills (£3.1 million), plus a £1.5 million allocation for Multiply, via the Department for Education, and £1.8 million through the Rural England Prosperity Fund. An additional £9.4 million was allocated to Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA) for 2025-26. East Riding of Yorkshire delivered projects including town centre regeneration, heritage, business innovation, skills development, and community capacity building.

Key impact evaluation findings

Communities and Place

Improved perception of place

UKSPF-funded improvements to community facilities and infrastructure in East Riding led to more attractive, accessible, and welcoming spaces. For example, improvements to the Leconfield recreational centre made the facility more appealing, while Great Driffield AFC established a fully accessible multifunctional community hub. Residents reported feeling proud to live in their local area and would recommend their area as a good place to live. Improvements to facilities increased both the attractiveness and the sense of belonging among residents.

Increased community capacity and growth in volunteering

Voluntary and community organisations who benefitted from UKSPF grants, training, and hands-on guidance developed increased capacity, resources and skill. These benefits enabled community and volunteer groups to deliver a broader and more inclusive range of community activities. East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s support was a critical enabler for local community groups to access funding and make use of funding, develop new services, and achieve improved financial sustainability. Communities and Place interventions led to increased volunteer opportunities and greater awareness and participation in community-based activities.

Supporting Local Businesses

Business growth

Financial and non-financial support provided to businesses as part of the Supporting Local Businesses offer led to increased turnover and business growth across a significant number of cases. Beneficiary businesses in receipt of support were able to make organisation improvements to marketing, service offerings, and operational capacity. Support also provided a key enabler for business expansion into new markets and was cited as a key factor in securing high value and profitable contracts.

Innovation and productivity

The Supporting Local Businesses offer was found to have enabled 92 enterprises to develop and launch new or improved products or services, and 66 to adopt new technologies or processes. Businesses supported were able to adopt new technologies and more efficient processes as well as upgrade their business offering by investing in specialist equipment and products leading to efficiencies and expanded capabilities. Innovation improvements typically related to technological enhancements that reduced cost and resource inputs for routine and/or administrative tasks.

Job creation and employment

Business support services contributed towards increased turnover and productivity gains which resulted in the creation of 133 jobs. Job creation included a range of permanent hires, apprenticeships, and seasonal roles. Overall, there was strong evidence to suggest that businesses had either met their employment targets or were planning future recruitment following predicted growth.

People and Skills

Employment

Monitoring data showed that 744 people entered employment following support from People and Skills interventions (including self-employment). Of these, 64 people with additional needs (such as disabilities and learning difficulties) were found to have secured jobs. UKSPF funded activities featured tailored, personalised support and sector-specific training that was regarded as driving increased economic activity particularly across the hospitality, construction, and retail sectors.

Improved Employability and Skills

A total of 678 beneficiaries of employment and skills support were found to have experienced enhanced employability through the development of interpersonal skills. Delivery bodies and beneficiaries reported that increased confidence, teamwork, and communication skills improvement were most notable and that this was a result of highly individualised and holistic support. A total of 428 individuals were found to have continued transition into education or training, and 547 achieved qualifications or completed accredited training courses. Evidence highlighted improvements in well-being, more productive daily routines, greater independence and confidence in managing personal affairs.

Key economic evaluation findings

East Riding’s UKSPF investment achieved a high overall level of value for money, with high performance across efficiency, effectiveness, and equity, and adequate performance in economy. The USKSPF programme in East Riding delivered outputs and outcomes that were either in line with or exceeded expectations. Outputs and outcomes maintained competitive unit costs, and interventions were reported to have reached key target groups through inclusive and locally responsive delivery. While supplier diversity was limited, this was offset by strong procurement practices and budget control. The investment was well-managed, impactful, and aligned with local priorities.

High scores across the efficiency, effectiveness and efficiency criteria were the result of strong performance against targets. Feedback consistently showed that stakeholders felt that interventions were well-aligned with local needs and tailored to community priorities. UKSPF in East Riding was found to have successfully reached its intended beneficiary groups, including rural communities, SMEs, unemployed individuals, and marginalised populations. Delivery was found to be inclusive and flexible therefore highly equitable. Weaker performance across the economy criteria was driven by a lack of supplier diversity and the prioritisation of local service providers which may have resulted in higher input costs and reduced competition during procurement and potential missed savings from economies of scale.

Key learnings and lesson

The following key learning and lessons have been identified, which will support design and delivery of future local growth funds:

• Smaller community groups often lack the experience and resources to manage grant funding, making one-to-one support, webinars, and bid-writing assistance essential. Capacity building efforts, though resource-intensive, lead to longer-term sustainability and improved readiness for future funding.
• Upfront funding mechanisms and short-term cycles can hinder delivery. Payment in arrears created financial barriers for organisations without reserves, while short-term contracting and tight reporting deadlines reduced efficiency and complicated planning and knowledge transfer.
• Administrative burdens and compliance requirements are resource intensive. Monitoring, reporting, and financial compliance were consistently cited as time-consuming and difficult to manage, especially during seasonal pressures. Managing many small grants also added to the workload and complexity for local authorities.
• Flexible and responsive funding design enables effective local delivery.
  UKSPF’s adaptable structure allowed East Riding of Yorkshire Council to respond to evolving community and business needs. The ability to reallocate funds and shape interventions based on demand was crucial in managing delivery within tight timescales.
• Consolidated service models and collaboration improved outcomes. For example, the ‘funnel approach’ resulted in a more simplified business support offer, enhanced collaboration between delivery partners and improved service integration.
• Strong local networks and supplier knowledge enhanced implementation of Yorkshire Council’s deep understanding of the local supplier landscape enabled efficient procurement and engagement. Leveraging existing relationships and local expertise contributed to effective, targeted service delivery.
• Inclusive, accessible, and targeted improvements to community spaces delivered immediate and significant benefits to vulnerable groups and broadened community participation.
• Business support drives short-term gains for individual businesses, many of whom were able to achieve outcomes in profitability, productivity, innovation, and job creation.
• The scale and reach of the Supporting Local Business provision will likely determine its long-term impact on the broader economy and regional development.
• Innovation and productivity gains are essential for enabling businesses to keep up with competition and expand. The adoption of new products, services, and technologies is key for enabling businesses to modernise.
• Small-scale capital grants and advisory support delivered immediate results in job creation, start-ups, and productivity improvements. These interventions demonstrate that modest investments can generate meaningful short-term gains for small firms.
• Established models and tailored keyworker support enabled strong engagement and exceeded targets for reducing barriers and supporting inactive residents.
• Person centred and flexible employability support is crucial for engaging individuals furthest from the job market, including those with mental health conditions.
• By improving confidence, motivation, and work readiness, People and Skills interventions enabled individuals to overcome significant personal barriers and challenges.
• More long-term support is required to ensure that benefits are sustained and to ensure that persons supported into employment, training and skills continue to work and earn.