European Social Fund

To access European Social Fund (ESF) opportunities to tender please select the appropriate regional link.

From October 2007 all new ESF opportunities to tender will be advertised on the DWP website.

Non European Social Fund opportunities to tender were advertised on the Jobcentre Plus opportunities to tender page before 3 September. All non ESF opportunities to tender advertised after 3 September can be found on the DWP website.

Background

Jobcentre Plus started as a Cofinancing organisation (CFO) for European Social Fund in Spring 2003. They approached this by launching their English regional networks as independent Cofinancing bodies. By 2004 all of the regions were successful operating as Cofinancing bodies by 2004. Organisations who wish to apply for non Cofinanced European Social Funding in England, should contact their local Government Office for details of bidding arrangments.

Scotland and Wales decided not to follow this route, and are following the Alternative Bidding approach to European Social Fund funding.

The Scottish Executive is responsible for delivery of European Social Fund in Scotland. The Welsh European Funding Office (an executive agency of the Welsh Assembly Government) is responsible for delivery of European Social Fun in Wales. For further information on applications www.esf.gov.uk

What Is The European Social Fund?

European Social Fund is an important source of funding for activities to develop employability and human resources in line with the European Employment Strategy. For the 2000 2006 programme there are 5 priority areas for European Social Fund action:

• active labour market policies;
• equal opportunities for all and promoting social inclusion;
• improving training and education and promoting lifelong learning;
• adaptability and entrepreneurship; and
• improving the participation of women in the labour market.

The 20002006 programme has been extended and European Social Fund expenditure may now be spent well into 2008.

On 14 July 2004, the European Commission adopted proposals for five new regulations governing the Structural and Cohesion Funds in 200713. Further information on the proposals is available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/index_en.htm

Negotiations on the proposed regulations began in September 2004 and are expected to continue until early 2006. The outcome of these negotiations may lead to new programmes being developed in 2006, for be implementation from 2007.

Within Great Britain, the European Social Fund and other Structural Funds are targeted at achieving the priority areas within the following three objectives:

Objective 1

Objective 1 covers four areas that are economically disadvantaged: Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Wales and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Objective 2

Objective 2 supports areas adjusting to changes in their industrial services sectors, rural decline, urban areas in difficulty and economically depressed areas that depend heavily on fisheries. Jobcentre Plus does not Cofinance objective 2 funds.

Objective 3

Objective 3 aims to support the adaptation and modernisation of policies and systems of education, training and employment, and operates in all areas except objective 1 areas. The majority of Jobcentre Plus cofinanced activity falls under Objective 3.

The European Social Fund normally provides up to 45% of the cost of the project, the rest, called Match Funding has to come from other sources.

For more information on European Social Fund, please visit the European Social Fund Division (ESFD) website www.esf.gov.uk .

The European Social Fund Division is a division within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) represents the United Kingdom in negotiations with the European Commission and other Member States and provides policy advice on European Social Fund issues across the UK. It works in partnership with the European Commission and key national players, including Jobcentre Plus, to administer the Objective 3 Community Support Framework and EQUAL programmes across Great Britain and the Objective 3 programme in England.