Sue Baxter from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills gave a presentation on the future of structural funds. BIS gave a presentation to the NCVO conference on the future of structural funds 2014-2020. Find out more about NCVO's european policy work: http://europeanfundingnetwork.eu/

1. EU STRUCTURAL & INVESTMENT FUNDS
IN ENGLAND 2014-2020
Sue Baxter
Department of Business, Innovation & Skills
NCVO EUROPEAN FUNDING NETWORK, NCVO
29 April 2013

2. 2
GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVES FOR DELIVERY
National and
local priorities
aligned
Common standards
and transparent
accountabilities
BETTER FOCUS
HIGHER IMPACT
INCREASED
GROWTH
Local decision
making and drive
A single set of
targets and
milestones across
England
EU regulatory
requirements met
and financial risk
minimised
Lower cost &
simplified
administration
Complex EU funds
packaged as a coherent
and consistent
programme
Variable
geographies

3. 3
ENGLAND MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS 2014-2020
Projects
Community Led Local
Development, including Leader
and FLAGs
Maritime
and
Fisheries
Programme
(EMFF)
Rural
Development
Programme
(EAFRD)
SI Funds Growth
Programme
(ERDF, ESF & EAFRD)

4. 4
SI FUNDS GROWTH PROGRAMME - KEY FEATURES
 An “EU Growth Programme” to be financed by ERDF and ESF with a
contribution from EAFRD. Minimal ‘top slicing’ for national
programmes.
 LEPs to be the fundamental building blocks receiving a 7 year
notional allocation subject to periodic performance reviews
 LEPs to identify their preferred SI Fund Investment Strategy as part
of their wider growth strategy, for agreement by the national
Growth Programme Board.
 LEPs will need to engage a broader spectrum of local partners than
may previously have been the case due to the broad policy span of
the Growth Programme. VCS an important partner!
 Any national co-financing initiatives to take account of local needs.

5. SI FUNDS GROWTH PROGRAMME
KEY FEATURES (continued)
 LEPs will not take on fund administration or project delivery
accountabilities. LEPs will maintain strategic oversight. Managing
Authorities and end beneficiaries will be financially accountable.
 Local teams (Managing Authorities, BIS Local and Cabinet Office
Local Intelligence Team) to support LEPs and perform due diligence
for LEP proposals.
 Managing Authorities will ‘hide the wiring’ from LEPs and end
beneficiaries as far as possible to reduce administrative burdens.
 ‘ITIs’ may be an option in a limited number of places - where this
arrangement will deliver better value and higher impact.
 Community based approaches – CLLD – in urban areas. LEPs may
also provide additional funding to LEADER initiatives and/or FLAGs.
 A single “EU Growth Programme Board” will be the joint
Programme Managing Committee for ESF and ERDF.

6. SI FUND GROWTH PROGRAMME - PRIORITIES
Thematic Objective
Minimum spending levels at national level required by the regulations
Less Developed Transition Regions More Developed
Innovation At least 50% ERDF must
be spent on these 4
objectives, of which at
least 10% on low
carbon
At least 60% ERDF
must be spent on
these 4 objectives, of
which at least 15% on
low carbon
At least 80% ERDF must
be spent on these 4
objectives, of which at
least 20% on low
carbon
ICT
SME Competitiveness
Low Carbon
Climate Change
Adaptation
Environmental
Protection
Sustainable Transport
Employment
At least 60% of ESF
allocation per
programme on up to 4
investment priorities
within these 4
thematic objectives.
At least 70 % of ESF
allocation per
programme on up to
4 investment
priorities within these
4 thematic
objectives.
At least 80 % of ESF
allocation per
programme on up to 4
investment priorities
within these 4
thematic objectives.
Skills
Social Inclusion
(at least 20% of value
of ESF)
Institutional Capacity

7. TIMELINES
•Single Local Growth
•Fund
investment strategies as part of
Single Local Growth
Fund (Heseltine)
EU Structural & Investment
Funds
Confirmation of design &
scope of the Fund
LEPs produce strategic
economic plans
Negotiation with Government on
growth deal
Local planning
and preparation
Domestic & EU funding available
Aligned delivery of SI Funds and SLGF
Guidance & indicative allocations
ESF/ERDF to LEPs. EAFRD allocation
later.
LEPs produce SI Fund
their strategic economic plans
LEPs agree SI Fund investment
strategies with Government
Local planning & preparation
with Managing Authorities
Funding becomes available
Delivery starts

8. 8
NEXT STEPS
 LEP preliminary guidance: Published 15th
April. Covers funding
priorities and engagement with key stakeholders, seeks feedback on
financial instruments and freedoms & flexibilities and sets timetable
 17 May: Special LEP EU funds workshop: BIS, 1 Victoria St, SW1
 End May 2013: Initial views from LEPs on their spending priorities, if
possible to EU.structuralandinvestmentfunds@bis.gsi.gov.uk
 June Spending Round: Government publishes more detailed LEP
guidance in context of future HMG spending priorities & EU changes
 End September: LEPs submit first cut of the SI Fund Investment
strategies (including emerging pipeline) to HMG for agreement
 Sept 2013 - Jan 2014: LEPs / HMG agree LEP SI Fund investment
strategies, targets and milestones. Managing Authorities draw up
technical programmes for ERDF & ESF based on LEP preferences.
 January 2014: LEPs submit final SI Fund investment strategies for
formal approval. Government agree the consolidated plans with EC.
 Spring - summer 2014: Partners start spending

9. 9
IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS
 How do my organisation’s strategic economic priorities
map onto LEP plans to drive the most transformational
investments, jobs and growth? What is the social
inclusion dimension? What social innovations?
 How do these map onto EU funding (thematic) priorities?
 How do we bring these together?
 Who else do we need to work with?
 What other local ‘reach’ is needed : what other partners
should be involved and how?
 What capacity building is required?
 What wider funding needs to be in place?

10. 9
IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS
 How do my organisation’s strategic economic priorities
map onto LEP plans to drive the most transformational
investments, jobs and growth? What is the social
inclusion dimension? What social innovations?
 How do these map onto EU funding (thematic) priorities?
 How do we bring these together?
 Who else do we need to work with?
 What other local ‘reach’ is needed : what other partners
should be involved and how?
 What capacity building is required?
 What wider funding needs to be in place?