Clean Growth Innovation Community (CGIC) Programme : Independent Evaluation

This report presents an independent evaluation of the Clean Growth Innovation Community (CGIC) Programme — a collaborative initiative between Cardiff Metropolitan and Swansea University funded through the Shared Prosperity Fund by six Welsh local authorities between April 2024 and March 2025. The evaluation findings confirm that the programme delivered impactful workshops to 126 businesses across nine Welsh regions, yielding strong evidence of both high participant satisfaction and enhanced innovation capabilities. The initiative successfully achieved its aims by disseminating knowledge about circular economy and sustainability, identifying decarbonisation opportunities at the organisational level, and fostering collaboration among Welsh businesses.

The assessment reveals numerous concrete outcomes from the programme, including businesses obtaining Green Growth Pledge certification, implementing strategic carbon reduction plans, and adopting operational changes that measurably reduce carbon footprints. Additionally, the programme established an enduring regional community of practice and influenced policy development through a comprehensive circular economy strategy report. The CGIC Programme stands as an exemplary model for SME-focused engagement that effectively enables businesses to implement meaningful circular economy and carbon reduction initiatives.