Services for Consultancies

Develop stronger evaluation bids

I help consultancies strengthen the evaluation methodologies and plans in their bids for government commissions. Drawing on experience from both the commissioning and delivery sides of evaluation, I work with teams to develop ambitious, credible and proportionate approaches that respond clearly to client requirements.

I can support:

developing evaluation methodologies and overall design
shaping theories of change and evaluation frameworks
designing impact, process and value for money approaches
identifying delivery risks and mitigation strategies
strengthening the evaluation narrative within the proposal

Selected experience

Developed the evaluation methodology for successful bids and commissions covering energy innovation, environmental policy, and other complex government programmes.

You might find this useful if...

You're responding to a framework call-off with a demanding timetable.
Your team would benefit from additional evaluation expertise without recruiting permanently.
The evaluation methodology needs strengthening to make the proposal more competitive.
You want an experienced evaluator to work alongside economists, policy specialists or delivery experts.
You need someone who understands both what commissioners ask for and what is practical to deliver.

Embedded evaluation leadership

I provide experienced evaluation leadership within multidisciplinary project teams, helping organisations navigate complex methodological challenges while building capability and confidence across the wider team.

I can support:

leading evaluation workstreams
methodological problem solving
adaptive evaluation design
client-facing advisory roles
mentoring and capability building

Selected experience

Provided embedded evaluation leadership across national evaluations for ICF, Arup, Technopolis and university partnerships, supporting both delivery and methodological development.

You might find this useful if...

You need senior evaluation input but not another full-time member of staff.
An evaluation has become more complex than originally anticipated.
You need someone who can work confidently with your client while strengthening the wider project team.
Your team would benefit from mentoring alongside project delivery.

Theory of Change for complex programmes

I help organisations develop robust theories of change that clarify how programmes are expected to achieve their outcomes. My approach combines participatory workshops with practical evaluation planning, helping teams build a shared understanding of complex interventions and establish a strong foundation for theory-based evaluation.

I can support:

participatory Theory of Change workshops
programme logic development
theory-based evaluation design
contribution analysis and realist approaches
evaluation planning for complex programmes

Selected experience

Developed and embedded Theory of Change approaches within UK Government before applying them across numerous national evaluations for Defra, DESNZ and other departments.

You might find this useful if...

You need to develop a robust Theory of Change before designing the evaluation.
The programme has evolved and stakeholders no longer share the same understanding of how it works.
The programme is complex, involving multiple organisations or delivery pathways.
You want the Theory of Change to become a practical management tool rather than simply a diagram in a report.

Independent quality assurance

I provide independent methodological review at key stages of an evaluation, helping teams strengthen proposals, frameworks, reports and emerging findings before they reach clients.

I can support:

proposal review
framework QA
report review
methodological advice
critical friend support

Selected experience

Provided quality assurance and methodological support across government and consultancy projects, helping teams refine evaluation designs and strengthen final outputs.

You may find this useful if...

An important deliverable needs an experienced pair of eyes before submission.
You want independent assurance that the methodology is robust.
A client has raised methodological concerns and you'd like a constructive, external perspective.
Your team would value a trusted critical friend during delivery.

Design robust evaluation frameworks

I support teams to design evaluation frameworks that are methodologically rigorous, proportionate and practical to deliver. My focus is on developing coherent evaluation strategies that integrate impact, process and value for money evidence into a single design.

I can support:

developing evaluation frameworks and protocols
developing monitoring and data strategies
designing integrated impact and process evaluation;
designing developmental, formative and summative evaluation
analysis planning
evaluation governance and risk management

Selected experience

Designed evaluation frameworks for programmes spanning transport, energy, environmental policy, housing and health, working with organisations including NatCen, Arup, Technopolis and ICF.

You might find this useful if...

Your team has won a contract and now needs to turn the proposal into a workable evaluation framework.
The client expects an integrated approach across impact, process and value for money evaluation.
You're unsure whether the proposed methodology is proportionate to the programme.
You need someone to identify methodological risks before they become delivery problems.

Research design and data collection

High-quality evaluation depends on high-quality evidence. I support project teams to design research and data collection approaches that are proportionate, methodologically robust and practical to deliver I help teams generate evidence that answers the evaluation questions rather than simply collecting data.

I can support:

qualitative and quantitative research design
survey and questionnaire design
interview and focus group design and fieldwork
monitoring and data collection systems
sampling strategies
mixed-method research
research tools and fieldwork protocols

Selected experience

Drawing on more than 30 years' experience in applied social research and a Master's in Social Research Methods, I have designed research tools, surveys and monitoring systems and / or qualitative fieldwork for more than 50 national and local studies in transport, environment, health, arts and culture, social care and housing.

You may find this useful if...

You need to design high-quality research quickly as part of a wider evaluation.
Your team would benefit from specialist research methods expertise.
You need to collect robust evidence across multiple stakeholder groups.
You want confidence that your research tools will generate meaningful and usable data.
Your monitoring system needs to produce evidence that can genuinely support evaluation.