2. ESF & ERDF 2014-20
• EU regulations not signed-off but:
• €6.2billion available across England
• €748.6 million available in London
• Inner London to receive Youth Employment Initiative
• LEPs drive the strategy: Structural & Investment Fund
Strategy (Oct 13, Jan 14);
• Bespoke events for specific audiences eg. universities,
local authorities, voluntary sector, youth strategy groups,
TUC;
• The LEP will play a key lead role throughout 2014-20.
3. ERDF 2014-20: proposal
Focus on
• Support the low carbon resource-efficient
economy
• Strengthen science & technological
development
• Enhance the competitiveness of London SMEs
4. ESF 2014-20: proposal
Focus on:
• Sustainable employment opportunities;
• Young people aged 15-24 not in education, employment or training
(NEET) or at risk of NEET into sustainable employment and/ or
education/ training;
• Promote London-wide careers/ IAG offer;
• Career progression & progression in learning linked to higher level skills
and quality apprenticeships for all age groups;
• Business start-up, self-employment and business growth skills training;
• Ensure skills and employment growth occurs in most deprived parts of
London as part of wider convergence agenda.
Notas del editor
The European Parliament has yet to sign off proposals for the 2014-20 programmes. Trilogues are taking place between the Commission, Council and Parliament to reach agreement. It is expected that the regulations will be adopted and come into force in autumn 2013. The Commission will then formally confirm allocations to Member States, and Member States will be able to submit other regulatory-required documents: the Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes. In the meantime, not withstanding this: In response to Heseltine’s review ‘No Stone Unturned’, Government set out in the March 2013 budget its approach to empowering local enterprise partnerships. his included the proposal to streamline the management of the EU Structural and Investment Funds in England, aligning priorities on the basis of the plans led by LEPs. LEPs were recently informed of their allocations. London to receive 748.6 million. Detailed guidance from Govt received. Draft Strategy to be produced by 7 Oct followed by final draft in Jan 14. Spend is expected to begin in mid 2014. Additional money through YEI will be available for Inner London as a NUTS2 region with a youth unemployment rate above 25%. Around 43 million euros has been announced as London’s allocation. Bespoke events have been held with a range of partners. Stakeholder groups are invited to put forward their views and tell us what they think about how the ESIF should be prioritised. LEP will play key lead role throughout the 14-20 programme, though management of the funds in each LEP area will remain with Government (BIS, DWP, DCLG, DEFRA).
Priority 1 - supporting the shift towards a low-carbon and resource-efficient economy through investment in infrastructure and technological development. we will build on the legacy of the JESSICA (the London Green Fund, LGF). also invest in activities to support innovation and market development in the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector, including projects that accelerate the development, deployment and cost reduction of low carbon technologies and related supply chains. Priority 2 - drive innovation, jobs and growth by realising the potential of London’s world class science and technology community. harness the interface between London’s university base and London’s ‘innovation ecosystem’ (including entrepreneurs and investors) in order to foster smart growth and translate knowledge and emerging technologies into new market products and intellectual capital. Priority 3 - Enhancing the competitiveness of London SMEs through access to new markets and access to finance improve the availability and take-up of small business finance (debt and equity) along with measures to ensure business financial readiness. access new market opportunities and boost trade and internationalisation. This could include schemes that help increase market opportunities in the UK, promoting public sector procurement opportunities or internationally, through exporting.
Funding will be used to complement ‘mainstream’ programmes delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions and Skills Funding Agency by addressing areas of greatest need. The aim will be to support more Londoners into work by equipping them with the skills they need to compete for London’s jobs, and progress within their careers. The first priority will be to 'Promote Sustained Employment' through targeted employability programmes tailored to meet the needs of groups furthest from the labour market including long-term workless adults and young people not in education employment or training (NEET) or at risk of NEET. Linked to this, we will also promote the benefits of part-time jobs which may be more suitable job entry routes for some groups as well as access to traineeships and apprenticeships. Within this priority the LEP is also keen to ensure that high quality information and advice which complements existing services is better linked between schools, FE, HE and employers, for customers to be able to make informed choices. The second priority will focus on 'Career Progression and Progression in Learning'. Interventions will be targeted towards those with low level or no qualifications, the low paid and those earning less than the London Living Wage, those in part time work to progress into full time work and those at risk of redundancy. Support for progression onto higher level or advanced skills training is also needed to meet the needs of new and existing industries - 55% of jobs now require level 4 qualifications as a minimum. This priority will also support opportunities to provide skills training in business start-up, self-employment and business growth.
