The other main Structural
Fund is the
European Regional Development Fund which invests in projects to improve
innovation, the environment and infrastructure.
The 2007-2013 ESF programme in the North West falls under the Regional
Competitiveness and Employment Objective which in turn contributes to the
EU's Lisbon strategy for
growth and jobs.
The North West (excluding Merseyside) has receive £220m of ESF
funding whilst Merseyside benefits from transitional funding of £134m
as a former Objective One region in 2000-2006.
The priorities in the 2007 to 2013 ESF programme are designed to focus ESF
spending on specific activities and to ensure that it reaches people in
most need of support. There are two main priorities in England:
- Priority 1 is 'Extending employment opportunities’ by tackling
barriers to work faced by people who are unemployed or disadvantaged in the
labour market;
- Priority 2 is 'Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce’ by
training people who lack basic skills and good qualifications
Regional Framework
The North West regional ESF framework illustrates how ESF will address
distinctive regional and local needs within the framework of a national
programme.
Co-financing Organisations and the Complementary
Strand
In the North West, two co-financing organisations (the LSC and DWP /
JobCentre Plus) have been selected to deliver the ESF programme. In
addition the flexibility offered to Merseyside as a phasing-In area has led
to the development of a Complementary Strand of ESF to operate within
Merseyside up to December 2010, alongside the co-financed activity. Detail
of both Co-financing and the Complementary Strand can be found below.
The results of the LSC and DWP tendering rounds will be announced on their
respective websites, please follow the links below.
Technical Assistance
The ESF Technical Assistance strategy for the North West of England can be
found below.
North West Technical Assistance Strategy
Community Grants
ESF Community Grants enable small third sector organisations, which would
not otherwise be able to access ESF, to apply for small grants through
simplified application arrangements. Grants focus on progression towards
the labour market but will not duplicate provision that is available
through mainstream ESF activity. Grants strengthen the ability of
small third sector organisations to deliver employment and skills
activities to disadvantaged people.
ESF Community Grants are be awarded and administered by Grant Co-ordinating
Bodies selected through an open competition. GONW are currently inviting
proposals for such a body to cover the Merseyside area.
-
Information on applying to be the Community Grants Co-ordinating
Body in Merseyside
Grant Co-ordinating Bodies for Community Grants in the rest of the North
West are being selected through LSC ESF Tendering Rounds.
Internet Links
Latest News
Innovation Transnational and Mainstreaming
A region-wide innovative project is now in place which specifically
addresses the impact of the economic downturn on graduates. The project is
entitled “The Graduate Employability Support Programme
– Engaging with Employers” and is being coordinated by
the University of Cumbria.
Revised Regional Framework
The North West Regional Framework has now been revised to take account of
change in regional circumstances not least the impact of the economic
downturn. This was approved by our Regional Committee in December 2009.
The Age and Employment Network’s ESF project
If you work for an ESF provider or are an ESF
delivery partner then you need to know about The Age and
Employment Network’s (TAEN) ESF project, which aims to help
you:
- assist in the re-engagement of older people into employment; and
- help older workers to enhance their skills and qualifications
TAEN is running an ESF Technical Assistance project to deliver a wide range
of measures to support providers and other partners, including:
- briefing seminars on 50+ and age management related issues;
- awareness raising of best practice on tackling disadvantages associated
with age; and
- development of guidance and other good practice materials
In order for TAEN to invite you to future seminars and conferences and to
send you the latest good practice guidance when it is being developed, it
would be immensely helpful if you can take a few minutes to answer a
brief survey
designed to help establish your needs and with planning their
project.
