Evaluation of Flexible Skills Programme – online survey with employers and employees
The Welsh Government has commissioned OB3 Research to undertake an evaluation of the Flexible Skills Programme. The aim of this evaluation is to:
examine the outputs of the programme
understand the outcomes and impacts of the programme to employers
understand the outcomes and impacts of the programme to employees
consider how the programme could be improved in future.
As part of this evaluation, OB3 Research will be gathering information through an online survey with employers and employees.
The Welsh Government is the data controller for the research. However, OB3 Research will delete any personal data provided through the survey, and anonymise the raw data, before it is shared with the Welsh Government.
The information collected during the project will be included in a report published on the Welsh Government website and possibly in other publications by OB3 Research and Welsh Government.
Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. However, your views and experiences are important in order to help inform Welsh Government policies.
The contact for this research at OB3 Research is Heledd Bebb
E-mail address: heledd@ob3research.co.uk
Telephone number: 07815 772242
PRIVACY NOTICE
What personal data do we hold and where do we get this information?
Personal data is defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) as ‘any information relating to an identifiable person who can be directly or indirectly identified by reference to an identifier’.
How you have been invited to take part in the research will depend on whether you are completing the survey as an employer or an employee:
Employers - OB3 Research have received your contact details (name, email address and, where available, telephone number) from Welsh Government. Welsh Government hold your information because of your application for financial support from the Flexible Skills Programme. OB3 Research will only use your contact details to email you a survey link and to send reminders.
You will receive up to two email reminder messages and a follow-up telephone, where your telephone number was provided by Welsh Government. If you do not wish to take part or be sent reminders, then please let us know using the email address or telephone number provided and your details will be removed.
Employees – Welsh Government do not hold your contact details. Your employer has given you the survey link so that you can complete the survey as a participant in training that has been financially supported by the Flexible Skills Programme. Your employer does not see the survey result as these go directly to OB3 Research.
Your participation is voluntary. Completing the survey does not capture your email address or IP address and, as a result, your responses are anonymous.
If you choose to provide additional personal data as part of the survey then we will try not to identify you from, or link your identity to, the responses you provide. The full survey results are only accessible to OB3 Research.
If you raise a query or complaint and provide personal data requesting a response, the researcher will forward the request only to the relevant official and subsequently delete it from the research data.
What is the lawful basis for using your data?
The lawful basis for processing information in this data collection exercise is our public task; that is, exercising our official authority to undertake the core role and functions of the Welsh Government.
Participation is completely voluntary. Research studies such as this are important for the Welsh Government to collect information and actionable evidence about its ability to deliver government priorities. The information collected in this research, for example, might be used to develop recommendations on delivery of the Flexible Skills Programme and future skills interventions.
How secure is your personal data?
Personal information provided to OB3 Research is always stored on a secure server. The data can only be accessed by a limited number of researchers working on this project. OB3 Research will only use this data for research purposes. OB3 Research has cyber essentials certification.
When conducting surveys, OB3 Research use a survey software programme called SNAP surveys. We have ensured that SNAP surveys is UK GDPR compliant and meets our expectations in terms of the security of any data collected via the software.
OB3 Research has procedures to deal with any suspected data security breaches. If a suspected breach occurs, OB3 Research will report this to the Welsh Government who will notify you and any applicable regulator where we are legally required to do so.
OB3 Research will use the information gathered to produce a report that will be published on the Welsh Government website. This report will not include any information that could be used to identify individual participants.
How long do we keep your personal data?
OB3 Research will hold personal data during the contract period, and any personal data not already removed will be deleted by OB3 Research within three months of the end of the contract. This includes your contact details.
OB3 Research will provide Welsh Government with an anonymised version of the data which will not include information that could identify you.
Individual rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights in relation to the personal information you provide as part of this evaluation, specifically you have the right:
To access a copy of your own data;
For us to rectify inaccuracies in that data;
To object to or restrict processing (in certain circumstances);
For your data to be ‘erased’ (in certain circumstances); and
To lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who is our independent regulator for data protection.
The contact details for the Information Commissioner’s Office are: Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Phone: 0303 123 1113. Website: www.ico.gov.uk
Further Information
If you have any further questions about how the data provided as part of this study will be used by the Welsh Government or wish to exercise your rights using the UK General Data Protection Regulation, please contact:
Name: Sean Homer
E-mail address: Sean.Homer001@gov.wales
Telephone number: 0300 025 4045
The Welsh Government’s Data Protection Officer can be contacted at:
Welsh Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, Email: DataProtectionOfficer@gov.wales.