The European Union supports poorer regions of Member States by providing funds to help them regenerate their economies and create new jobs. The four most important funding programmes are known collectively as ‘Structural Funds’.
More information on the national picture
The current European Structural Funds Programming runs from 2007-13 and the majority of the funding received by the UK will be through a new European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and a new European Social Fund (ESF). The allocation for the East Midlands is 516.5 million euros made up of an ERDF programme worth 268.5 million euros and an ESF programme worth 248 million euros. Further information on the development of both these new programmes can be found by following the links to the left of the page.
It is important to note that the project activity funded by the current 2000-06 programmes will continue until 2008. There will be some overlap between the programmes in 2007 and 2008 while the current programmes run down and the new programmes start up.
Keeping Records for Past European Structural Fund Programmes (1994 - 1999)
For keeping European Social Fund Programme records from 1994 to 1999, click the link for more information.
For European Regional Development Fund records from 1994-99, click the link.
(Date posted - 04/03/08)
Triple success for East Midlands ERDF funded films at the 2008 Orange British Academy Film Awards

Three East Midlands ERDF funded films won top prizes at the 2008 BAFTAs. These were:
- This Is England won Best British Film; one of BAFTA's top prizes;
- Matt Greenhalgh, writer of Control, won the Carl Foreman Award for Special Achievement by a British Director, Writer or Producer in their First Feature Film;
- Dog Altogether won the best Short Film award.
This is an amazing achievement and significantly helps raise the profile of the region (in terms of filmmaking), EM Media (as the regional film agency) and the East Midlands Media Investment fund. From an ERDF point of view the project has created jobs, developed skills, supported new businesses and attracted new investment into the region.
East Midlands Investment Fund is funded with £6 million of ERDF. The fund invests in films and digital media on a loan or equity basis. The money is then repaid into the fund as projects make money from product sales. This money can then be re-invested in new projects.
For further details see the EM Media website.
(date posted 22/02/08)
For more information please see the European Funding News Archive