Evidence is a critical part of the decision-making process within the Civil Service. It helps people to understand policy problems and needs, spot opportunities, assess what works and make judgments about a course of action. However, using evidence can be challenging. It is often hard to access and commission, slow to produce and findings are of variable quality.

To use evidence effectively, those working within the Civil Service need to be equipped to understand what good, and good enough, evidence means when it comes to making decisions in government.

The course helped participants to use evidence in their day-to-day work and to become smart consumers of research. It was designed to help build confidence in assessing, compiling, assimilating, interpreting and presenting a strong evidence base. In practice, this means everything from choosing the most appropriate research method to communicating evidence in the most accessible way.

The course used several simulation activities and practical examples to enable participants to experience real decision-making and the challenges of using evidence, as well as supporting individuals to reflect, learn and develop their competence by problem-solving with peers.