As the only Convergence area in England, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly benefits from a higher level of funding per head of population than other regions. Although the area continues to lag behind much of the country, good progress is being made, with GVA now growing at the fastest rate in the South West. The economic downturn has impacted here as in other areas, but the effects have not been as severe as originally feared. In addition to retaining a major focus on tackling disadvantage, particularly resulting from rural isolation and seasonal employment patterns, the revised framework includes a greater focus on 50+ and older workers, who represent a much higher than average proportion of the population, and of the unemployed and economically inactive. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly foresee significant opportunities from carbon reduction sectors, highlighted by its status as a major area for marine renewables, as well as development of an innovative 'eco town'. The framework targets significant investment in higher education (HE), both from the point of view of higher level skills for new technologies, and widening access to higher skills for a population with below-average qualification levels.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
ESF 2011-2013
Main priorities and issues
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Regional Framework revolves around five strategic investment areas, based on careful analysis of opportunities and challenges in the only Convergence area in England, bringing with it greater flexibility and a higher ESF intervention rate. The framework seeks to use this status as a spur to moving the local economy decisively forward.
The first priority focuses on employment and skills for low carbon economic development, with a particular focus on developing the skills at all levels needed to exploit opportunities available to the area. These include new technologies, particularly but not exclusively to support Cornwall's designation as the UK's first low carbon economic area for marine renewables. The emphasis is on flexible and generic skills, albeit at high levels, avoiding pre-judging the specific technologies that will emerge as the most important.
Other opportunities arising from low carbon transition include resource efficiency skills for business; increasing carbon literacy in order to develop the necessary capacity, skills and knowledge exchange to drive low carbon economic development; developing new qualifications; and ensuring local availability of formalised training in new and emerging jobs.
Employment and skills for enterprise and entrepreneurship are the second priority, seeking growth and productivity in small enterprises via fostering enterprising behaviour, and improving leadership and management, and the likelihood of successful business start-ups. The provision to be sought here includes some focus on young people as well as entrepreneurs
Thirdly, employment and skills for key sectors are targeted, continuing the focus on demand-led skills provision and employer engagement for key sectors for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Sectors which will be supported include marine, tourism, retail, creative and IT (the list is not exhaustive, and will be flexible to meet demand as it arises).
The employment and skills for the eco town of St Austell and the China Clay community is the fourth area for investment, prioritising ways to support the transformational ambitions for this development. Early interventions will be around sustainable construction, with other skills and employment opportunities being identified as the project develops.
Employment and skills for the digital economy are the final focus, with particular priority for the support needed to fully develop and exploit fast broadband in a business and employment context. Themes include technological, informational and media literacy; development and exploitation of a personal 'digital presence'; and 'e-awareness'. The strand will dovetail with the proposed ERDF Next Generation Broadband project.
CFOs' detailed plans will be expected to fully contribute to these areas, and include the whole labour force, with links with schools, colleges, and universities, promoting opportunities to young people, widening participation, and also exploiting the HE knowledge base.
There will be support for measures to tackle labour market disadvantage and promote equal opportunities. There are also expected to be measures to support those seeking employment and help employers open up new opportunities.
Actions to address basic skills and Level 2 objectives within the workforce are included, as well as plans for strengthening Level 3 skills and the supply of higher-skilled labour for new opportunities.
Coordination with ERDF priorities and investments is an important focus. Strategic Investment Framework (SIF) areas are particularly important, and the alliance of ESF to physical regeneration activity would provide the opportunity to put world class employment and skills packages in place in these locations.
In line with the original Regional Framework, Priority 4 support is focused on assisting workless people into employment, and provision to be commissioned will focus on:
- demand-led provision for key employment sectors
- replacement demand - sectors with regular turnover of employment providing opportunities for unemployed and inactive people
- pre-employment support and post-employment mentoring
- improving young people's prospects
- ESF Community Grants.
In addition to disadvantaged priority groups there is also a focus here on rural areas. Providers will be expected to increase the number of participants who are unemployed, focus actions on those under 30 who are unemployed, make greater efforts to assist participants into work, and increase efforts to engage with older people, particularly those who are inactive.
Priority 5, Improving the Skills of the Local Workforce, sees no change in funding parameters, with a high degree of flexibility in requiring at least 20% funding for each of basic, Level 2 and Level 3 skills. It targets four areas of intervention: under employed or threat of redundancy; Level 2 and progression; sector and local workforce skills programmes; and business growth.
At least 25% of ESF funding here is to support HE activity, with a focus on investment in research activities; graduate placement programmes; developing employer demand led provision; and encouraging access to all for HE. Higher education provision is delivering outside of co-financing, and calls for proposals are organised by the Government Office for the South West.
Priority 5 providers will be expected to focus on increasing the number of participants who secure Level 2 and reacting to demand for Level 3 qualifications, and meeting the full graduate placement targets and numbers participating in research qualifications.
Funding allocations for 2011-2013
| Total | Priority 4 | Priority 5 | Priority 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-2010 | £85m | £32m | £51m | £2m |
| 2011-2013 | £68m | £26m | £41m | £1m |
The original allocation between the priorities remains unaltered:
- Priority 4 - Tackling Barriers to Employment 38%
- Priority 5 - Improving the skills of the Workforce 60%
- Priority 6 - Technical Assistance 2%
CFOs
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Skills Funding Agency
- National Offender Management Service (NOMS)
- The Higher Education call for proposals will be published in the summer of 2010.
Projects featured on ESF-Works relevant to the above priorities
Links
Convergence ESF Framework (Refresh)
Regional news
Cornwall’s School for Social Entrepreneurs Graduation Ceremony
On Friday 12th February 2010, ESF-Works attended the School for Social Entrepreneurs' first ever Graduation Ceremony at the Eden Project. Read more about this interesting and rewarding event.
Jump on the Bus 50+
Read the project report from Cornwall Works: Jump on the Bus 50+. You can also read the reviews about Cornwall Works 50+ and Cornwall Works 50+ Cares in more detail.
Recently added
The following projects have recently been added for this region. Click on one to find out more.
The primary goal of Clear about Carbon is to develop, test and deliver innovative approaches to increase the level of carbon literacy in the workforce, amongst workers, managers, policy-setters and customers.
Cornwall Works 50+
This project will pilot a series of new ideas to address the difficulties faced by older workers in entering the workforce, focusing on both improving engagement with current provision and anything else that is needed to help them re-enter work.
Cornwall Works 50+ Cares
The project will pilot a series of new ideas to raise the profile of Cornwall’s social care sector and help develop the skills needed to care for an ageing population.
View all projects in this region
