With its industrial base seriously affected by the economic downturn, the North West's plan is strongly focused on responding to actual and threatened redundancies, and supporting areas and sectors with growth potential. Support for the most disadvantaged jobseekers is also a high priority. A greater proportion of resources will be available for higher-level skills development, whilst opportunities arising from responses to climate change - both new sectors and the 'greening' of existing industries - are a focus. The region has also introduced health as a new 'cross-cutting' theme, with new provision needing to take into account the interplay of health and employment measures.
North West
ESF 2011-2013
Main priorities and issues
Spatial targeting is more precise in the 2011-2013 phase, with focus on growth locations such as the North West's City Regions, the Liverpool Manchester corridor, Preston and Chester.
More resources will be available for higher-level skills during the next phase, with 35% of the funding in Priority 2 allocated to support training at Level 3 and above compared to 28% in the first part of the programme.
There is a new major focus on low carbon transition. This includes skills for new technologies, seen as a major opportunity for the area with its industrial base and access to renewable resources. But the plan also seeks support for existing sectors needing to reduce their carbon footprint, a big issue for traditional industries.
Health comes in as a new 'cross cutting theme' for the region alongside sustainable development and equal opportunities. Future providers will be expected to think through clearly how their delivery interacts with health issues, with a focus on easing barriers to work and reducing the health impacts of being employed.
Merseyside's transitional status, which gave greater flexibility in the first phase of the programme, ends with the second phase and the core NW Framework parameters, and co-financing arrangements now apply to Merseyside for the remainder of the programme.
The revised framework will also be used to add value to measures to:
- respond to the economic downturn by providing additional support to disadvantaged jobseekers, people who have recently been made redundant, and people facing redundancy; and
- support economic recovery by addressing weaknesses in low and intermediate skills, and to upskill people to meet future skills needs; this includes a commitment to the creation of 'green jobs' as part of a shift towards a low carbon economy, identifying specific sectors and skills needs that will be targeted with ESF funding.
Funding allocations for 2011-2013
| Total | Merseyside | Rest of region | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-2010 | £276m | £136m | £140m |
| 2011-2013 | £139m | £22m | £117m |
CFOs
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Skills Funding Agency
- National Offender Management Service (NOMS)
Projects featured on ESF-Works relevant to the above priorities
- Sefton@Work
- GreenWays to Work Cumbria
- St. Helens Council for Voluntary Service (CVS)
- Work Solutions, Liverpool
Links
Revised North West ESF Framework, 2011-2013
Regional news
North West Network act to improve the efficiency of the administration of charities in direct pursuit of their objects in Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Greater Manchester, by the provision of advice, training and information; concerning the nature and assistance provided for charities by the institutions of the European Community.Recently added
The following projects have recently been added for this region. Click on one to find out more.
Starting Point, St Helen's Chamber
Benefitting from a shared space and shared objectives with St Helens Chamber, Starting Point has used a variety of funding to broaden its service to include those without work, both recently and longer term, as well as those newly in employment, or in work but under threat of redundancy.
ReachOut
ReachOut provides innovative and proactive engagement activity through door-knocking in areas of deprivation across the Super Output Areas of Wirral.
Work Solutions, Liverpool
Work Solutions provides pre-entry basic skills and pre-ESOL support to participants who are unemployed and resident in Merseyside.
View all projects in this region
