Regional Competitiveness and Employment (EU Structural Funds)
The Regional Competitiveness and Employment programme is the successor to Objectives 2 and 3. It is made up of two complementary programmes: A regional European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme worth €400m (£260m) to be managed regionally by Advantage West Midlands and a national European Social Fund (ESF) programme with a regional allocation of €372m (£220m). This is roughly half the current levels of funding. Both funds have to be allocated in line with EU, national and regional strategies to promote economic growth and help create jobs.
Nationally, the new ESF programme has two main priorities:
- Extending employment opportunities;
- Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce.
Regionally, the Regional Skills Partnership has led on the development of the Regional ESF Framework. This sets out the regional contribution to national employment & skills targets and also identifies regional priorities. The Framework is available at: http://www.wmskillspartnership.org.uk/downloads.html
The LSC launched launched their second round (1B) of funding on 22 April 2008. Only those providers successful at PQQ stage have been invited to tender. The LSC is looking to procure activity in six areas, of which four are relevant to Warwickshire:
- Post 16 Provision for NEET
- Workforce Skills – Numeracy
- Workforce Skills – Train to Gain Capacity Building (NVQ)
- Engaging Employers through the Skills Pledge
The deadline for submissions was 30th May 2008. For more information, see the LSC's web site: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/regions/WestMidlands/ESF/
Successful providers in Round 1A have been invited to contract clarification. A formal announcement will be made in June 2008.
DWP launched its tendering process on 3 October 2007. The Coventry and Warwickshire Specification was also published. There is a two-stage process. Stage 1 was the submission of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ). Stage 2 was restriced to those successful at PQQ stage. Full tenders had to be submited by January 2008. Information about the successful bidders has been published on the DWP web site: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplyingdwp/what_we_buy/european_social_fund.asp
Global Grants – a small grants scheme for voluntary sector and community organisations working to improve the employability of unemployed people and delivered between 2002 and 2006 by the Heart of England Community Foundation – is also expected to continue as 'ESF community grants'. It will be delivered either regionally or sub-regionally.
The new ERDF programme was launched on 22 January 2008. The programme has three main priorities; each with a specific thematic and/ or geographical focus in line with the Regional Economic Strategy:
- Promoting Innovation and Research & Development;
- Stimulating Enterprise Development;
- Achieving Sustainable Urban Development.
Coventry and Nuneaton is one of just six 'package areas' for the Sustainable Urban Development Priority.
For information about how the programme will be delivered including how to apply, see AWM's web site.
http://www.advantagewm.co.uk
Other EU Programmes
ERDF and ESF are not the only programmes available in Warwickshire. There are many others, some with substantial budgets. However, it is important to check the funding criteria carefully. Some require applications to be made to the European Commission rather than national or regional organisations. Programmes are open to the whole EU so they can be very competitive, and detailed priorities can change on an annual basis. Most also involve some ‘transnational working’ – or joint work with partners in other Member States, sometimes as part of large partnerships. It is important to note, in particular, that this kind of EU funding cannot be awarded for projects that would happen anyway nor for projects that are purely of “local” rather than wider “European” relevance and interest. WCC’s European Team can advise on whether your project idea fits the bill. There are programmes for:
- Research, Technological Development and Demonstration
- Interregional co-operation on economic development and sustainable development
- Lifelong Learning
- Enterprise
- ICT
- Energy
- Rural development
- Culture
- Youth
- Health
- Media
Schools
Visit the Education & Europe pages for more information about European funding for schools, European & international activities for schools and students, and staff professional development opportunities. Education & Europe
Making the Most of the new EU Funding Programmes - EPIC
CSWP and Coventry & Warwickshire Sub Regional Group organised a seminar and workshop on the new programmes held on 2 March 2007 at Eliot Park Innovation Centre (EPIC) in Nuneaton.
Making the Most of the new EU Funding Programmes - presentations and workshop notes
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