In February 2021, Miller Research was appointed to undertake a baseline and mid-term evaluation of the Smart Efficient Energy Centre (SEEC), subsequently being appointed to complete the final evaluation in 2022. 

SEEC is a four-year Operation part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO). In total, the Operation had a budget of approximately £6.97 million, of which the ERDF contributed £4.6 million. It was delivered under the 2014-2020 Programme, Priority Axis 1: Research and Innovation, with the research contributing towards Specific Objective 1.1: ‘To increase the success of Welsh research institutions in attracting competitive and private research funding’. 

The Operation was delivered by Bangor University, with the aim of linking academic expertise in SEEC with industry partners in the low carbon energy sector, developing innovative solutions for future transitions to the low carbon economy. 

The focus of the baseline evaluation was to assess the strategic fit, objectives, operation design, delivery and management of the SEEC Operation. The interim evaluation reviewed progress against objectives and emerging outcomes, with recommendations for the continued delivery of the Operation. The third and final evaluation concluded with recommendations for future Operations of a similar nature, following a comprehensive analysis of the entire programme, including case studies of the work that SEEC undertook with industry stakeholders. 

Our methodology began with the development of a Theory of Change and logic model for the programme, followed by scoping interviews and desk reviews of monitoring documents for all stages of evaluation. Fieldwork consisted of a series of qualitative interviews with the delivery partners and wider stakeholders including industry partners. 

For more information about the evaluation, please contact Tom.