Research and analysis

Liverpool City Region UKSPF evaluation: interim findings

Updated 3 December 2025

Applies to England

Executive summary: Liverpool City Region interim findings

Introduction

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) provides a total of £3.5 billion of funding for local investment over 4 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 Liverpool City Region, based on research conducted between July 2024 and December 2024. It outlines the progress made to date and presents interim evaluation findings.

Key process evaluation findings

Intervention design

• UKSPF served as the primary funding source for most interventions, minimising the need for match funding. This simplified access to funding, but potentially limited opportunities to leverage additional resources.
• Interventions were selected to align with regional strategic priorities and address local needs identified through stakeholder consultations. However, stakeholder engagement was limited due to tight timeframes in year 1, and improved as the programme progressed.
• Some existing interventions were continued and enhanced. This enabled rapid delivery and made use of existing expertise.
• The challenging timeframe for developing investment plans impacted the depth of needs assessments and limited opportunities for innovation.
• Balancing regional and local priorities was a challenge, and there were some initial tensions between the priorities of local authorities and the combined authority’s strategic goals.

Portfolio Implementation

• Direct outreach to known providers streamlined procurement but may have limited engagement with new suppliers and impacted value for money.
• Most UKSPF delivery in the combined authority area is by grant funding, with only one commissioned intervention which led to some inconsistencies in programme implementation across the local authorities.
• Positive aspects of programme design included the ability to align interventions with regional strategies, and the flexibility offered by UKSPF to tailor projects to local contexts.
• Key challenges included the tight timeframe for implementation, limited capacity within some local authorities to manage the programme effectively, and a lack of clear national guidance, notably compared to previous European funding programmes. This necessitated the development of internal guidance by the combined authority.

Intervention delivery

• Key improvements resulting from UKSPF interventions include enhanced green spaces and community safety, targeted business support and market revitalisation, and improved digital access for vulnerable groups.
• Early challenges, such as with business engagement and digital equipment eligibility restrictions, were addressed through outreach, direct business engagement, and adjustments to funding criteria.
• Partnering with experienced organisations was key for effective implementation, as local authority capacity and skills varied.

Data Collection and Monitoring

• Timely data from suppliers was difficult to obtain due to manual processes, inconsistent engagement, and the administrative burden of new reporting requirements.
• Quality assuring monitoring data required significant staff resources, in some cases necessitating the recruitment of temporary staff.
• Reporting processes to MHCLG were initially unclear and inefficient, leading to confusion and delays, but improved over time with clearer guidance and more structured processes.
• Measuring less tangible outcomes, such as changes in public perception and feelings of safety, remain a challenge.

Progress to date: expenditure, outputs and outcomes

Analysis shows outputs are being achieved by the interventions assessed for this evaluation, with funding and delivery still ongoing. As the initiatives progress and more data becomes available, a clearer picture of the full impact and scope of outputs will emerge.

As of September 2024, the UKSPF has made progress across several initiatives including:

• 3,000 trees planted and 200 square meters of green/blue space created or improved, alongside five new supporting facilities Under the Green, Safe & Resilient Communities programme.
• Eleven neighbourhoods received safety enhancements, and one further neighbourhood improvement is underway.
• The Digital Connectivity initiative created, or improved, 84 amenities and facilities, and awarded grants to 168 organisations.
• The Town Centres initiative provided non-financial assistance to 199 enterprises and supported the development of a local marketplace.

Early impact findings

It is too early to draw definitive conclusions about the impact of UKSPF in Liverpool City Region. While some positive early indications exist, limited outcome data is currently available. The final report will provide a more robust impact assessment based on additional data collection and analysis.

The final evaluation will include further in-depth interviews with local authorities, delivery partners, and beneficiaries, as well as detailed analysis of programme MI and the Your Community Your Say Survey.