Independent evaluation of a programme of stakeholder engagement workshops, in support of the Geological Disposal Facility consultations on the National Policy Statement (NPS) and the Working with Communities policy

Description

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) wishes to commission a project to provide an independent evaluation of a programme of stakeholder engagement and communications activity and workshops in support of the Geological Disposal Facility consultations on the National Policy Statement (NPS) and the Working with Communities policy. As part of the consultation process, BEIS plans to run up to six stakeholder engagement workshops which will compliment a range of other engagement activity. The workshops will provide an opportunity to brief key stakeholders on GDF policy and ensure they understand the detail of the NPS and Working with Communities policy enabling them to submit a considered response to the consultations. In addition, the NPS consultation legally requires consultation with statutory stakeholders. Whilst carrying out these consultations, it is important to have an independent evaluator to scrutinise the consultation process and verify that the consultation has been delivered in accordance with best practice consultation guidance in an open and transparent manner. Feedback may also be provided to improve the process. This independent evaluator will go to the consultation events to spectate and possibly provide advice. It is envisaged that the chosen supplier will support BEIS by undertaking the following tasks to provide independent evaluation of the stakeholder engagement workshops: - Attend meetings with BEIS and the supplier delivering the events to scrutinise how the consultation events are designed (March to May 2017) - Attend stakeholder consultation events ran by the company delivering the events (May/June 2017) - Provide advice during these events to ensure the events objectives are met (ongoing) - Write a report after the consultations close that analyses the engagement activity and events and outline methods in which the consultation process may be improved (July 2017)