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Paper short abstract

Widespread adoption of Value for Investment in the UK brings exciting opportunities but also quality risks. This panel explores lessons, pitfalls, and pathways for safeguarding fidelity as VfI scales across the public sector.

Paper long abstract

Value for Investment (VfI) is gaining rapid traction across the UK public sector as a practical, principles-driven approach to assessing the quality and value of public spending. For example, VfI methods are now a core module in the Evaluation Task Force’s government evaluation academy training. The widespread adoption of VfI guidance and training creates both opportunities and risks. On one hand, uptake can catalyse further development, refinement, and integration of the approach. On the other, without sufficient quality assurance, there is the danger of superficial application - evaluations that claim VfI compliance yet do not meet its core principles or minimum specifications. This session will explore these opportunities and risks, drawing on perspectives from originators of VfI, early adopters, experienced commissioners, and long-term practitioners. Presentations will cover the evolution of the approach, experience from early implementation, lessons from embedding VfI within organisational systems, and recommendations for sustaining integrity as adoption accelerates. The session will conclude with proposals for strengthening VfI quality assurance in the UK and invite the audience to reflect on what this means for their own practice.