An independent evaluation was carried out into the Pro-Train project.  It is a tool that can provide critical understanding of the functioning of services, innovations and project work.  The methodology utilised in the course of this study has been essentially qualitative.  The study has been exploratory and inductive in order to elicit the perceptions of as wide a sample of participants as possible.  The primary form of data collection has been formal semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of project participants including regular interviews with the Project manager.  The study has been inductive in the sense that Pro-Train is a project in development with ever shifting dynamics, the sample has been purposive because in order to capture this shifting dynamic, the nature of the relevant sample was constantly changing.  The end result was a data mountain that took a considerable amount of time to decipher.
In addition to interviews with participants, the evaluation undertook direct observation of the project activities.  The evaluation sought to be present at most of the appropriate staking posts of the project and across a representative range of the projects activities, including Steering Group meetings, Industry Breakfasts, evening meetings, school and industry exchanges and Careers Roadshows. 
The Pro-Train project itself, involves, in part, training in Norfolk, a skills deficit, and the possible factors responsible for the skill deficit, and a shortfall of recruits.

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