The Challenge

The CIPD Trust sought to deliver measurable social change by improving access to work, transforming organisational practices, and fostering a diverse, equitable workforce. With multiple programmes supporting individuals, HR professionals, and organisations, the Trust needed a robust framework to measure outcomes consistently, generate actionable insights, and to deliver an adaptable and scalable evaluation system, for the Trust’s expanding initiatives.

The Solution

Bean Research collaborated with the CIPD Trust to develop and embed the CIPD Trust Impact Framework, a centralised approach to evaluation and reporting. Over the past year, Bean Research: 

  1. Created a Theory of Change: Defined clear outcomes for the Trust’s interventions, emphasising individual progression, organisational change, and societal equity. 
  2. Implemented Consistent Monitoring Tools and Streamlined Data Collection: Designed programme-specific questionnaires to collect data from individuals, HR professionals, and organisations. 
  3. Supported Continuous Learning and Comprehensive Reporting: Delivered monthly team sessions and quarterly Steering Group updates and the recent launch of a live Impact Dashboard. Annual impact reports illustrate the tangible benefits of the Trust’s programmes and provide evidence of those positive outcomes. 

CIPD Trust framework

Results
Through Bean Research’s work, the CIPD Trust now has a clear and data-driven understanding of its impact, leading to actionable insights and significant achievements: 

  • Improved Employment Outcomes: 74% of Access to Work participants reported a positive employment outcome, and 81% of Aspiring HR Directors reported a positive change in their employment status. 
  • Organisational Change: 67% of mentors took learnings back into the workplace, making improvements based on their mentoring experiences.
  • Professional Development: Mentors themselves gained from their participation, with 62% increasing empathy and 42% improving communication skills.

By embedding the CIPD Trust Impact Framework, Bean Research has empowered the CIPD Trust to demonstrate its value and refine its approach, ensuring its programmes continue to create meaningful change.