Evaluation of the Golden Hello Initiative - York Consulting

Qualitative Evidence4.11 Qualitative case study evidence also suggests that the availability of aGolden Hello was a contributory factor for a small number of recipients. Thisis demonstrated in the following example (see Table 4.1).Table 4.1:Case Study example to demonstrate recruitment effectsExample OneTim (not his real name) 29 used to work for a newspaper that kept him up-to-date with newinitiatives launched by the government, and through which he had read about the GoldenHello initiative. Tim was already considering a change in career but had concerns about thefinancial remuneration. The prospect of a Golden Hello therefore contributed towards hisdecision-making as he felt this would help cover his reduction in income in the short term.CollegesApplicants for Vacancies4.12 Mixed views were evidenced from colleges during case study visits interms of the number of applicants for vacancies. Whilst some wereevidencing an increase in the number of applications in shortage subjectareas, others had witnessed a decline. In several case study colleges therehad not been a need to recruit in the shortage subjects areas since theintroduction of the initiative and hence there is no evidence from which toinvestigate any change.Strategies for Recruitment4.13 Several colleges considered that the initiative is having little impact onrecruitment. This is because recipients were already recruited beforereceiving a Golden Hello and because colleges feel that Golden Hellos arenot appropriately designed to impact on their strategies for recruitment.Several college stakeholders considered that Golden Hellos could not beused as effectively as a recruitment tool for fear of raising expectationsamongst individuals who may be ineligible (see Table 4.2). This is aconstraint factor to be considered in assessing process issues and isexplored in Section Six.Table 4.2:Case study evidence to demonstrate Golden Hellos are not an effectiverecruitment tool for collegesQuotes“The problem with using it as a recruitment strategy is that we don’t know who’sgoing to apply for the position, and even if it appears that they will be eligible in a29 To preserve anonymity all names have been changed throughout this report.