Creative Careers Service (CCS) Process Evaluation

Background

The Creative Careers Service (CCS) pilot was co-designed by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the creative industry. The service aims to assist people in the creative sector to develop business skills and plan for financial stability. It was implemented in the Auckland, Waikato, and Nelson regions in 2020.

A process evaluation for the service was conducted to answer three key questions – ‘how well has the service been designed’, ‘how well has the service been implemented’, and ‘to what extent it contributes to the intended short-term outcomes’.

Key Findings

Creative Careers Service has been designed well

• CCS is a unique service. Stakeholders value CCS for linking creative practice with business skills for sustainable careers.
• Strengths to its service design: Client-centred approach, flexible design to allow tailoring services for the client, and adaptable to disruptions caused by COVID-19.
• The three strategic shifts of Te Pae Tawhiti were evident in the service design.

Creative Careers Service has largely been implemented as intended

• CCS made reasonable progress towards implementation milestones as a new pilot and has been largely implemented as planned.
• Participants have highlighted that mentorship, professional development, networking, and access to resources were critical supports. The service supports client diversity, is person-centred and responsive to specific needs of the client.
• Mentor relationships and adaptable providers are key drivers of client engagement and service completion. However, illness, family obligations and other external factors can sometimes result in participants exiting the service earlier than planned.
• Providers identified some opportunities to improve CCS

Creative Careers Service is contributing to most short-term outcomes

• CCS is contributing to its intended short-term outcomes. Most participants interviewed reported the Creative Careers Service:
  • helped them to identify and develop their creative career
  • helped them articulate income goals and a plan to support goals
  • improved their business skills and knowledge
  • gave them the skills and confidence to network with other creatives, businesses and organisations, and be confident in public speaking
  • gave them the knowledge and skills to write grant applications for business development.
• The service achieved some positive outcomes for Māori, Pasifika and disabled people, however more work is required to analyse whether CCS can achieve equitable outcomes for all participants.