In 2023, AMION conducted an evaluation of the Liverpool City Region (LCR) 4.0 Holistic programme, focusing on its impact and effectiveness. The project aimed to support businesses to overcome challenges they face in industry by improving supply chain efficiency. It involved collaboration between the Virtual Engineering Centre and Management School at the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and the Liverpool City Region’s Growth Platform. The project was part-funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and had a total cost of almost £4 million.
This evaluation assessed the project’s contributions to fostering entrepreneurship, supporting business growth, and promoting digital innovation within the region. It also assessed the role of the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC) at the University of Liverpool in programme delivery and the relationships with key stakeholders and partners including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Liverpool John Moores University.
A combination of stakeholder interviews, beneficiary surveys (conducted by Spirul), performance metrics analysis and case studies were used to assess the project’s outputs, outcomes and impacts to date.
AMION identified key successes and areas for improvement to inform future policy and programme development. The project’s value for money was also assessed including cost per job and return on investment metrics.
Following on from this successful collaboration, AMION were appointed to conduct a separate Economic Impact Assessment of the VEC’s activities since its inception in 2010. This provided valuable insights into the VEC’s tangible economic benefits, highlighting its significance as a driver of regional prosperity and industrial advancement.