The European Social Fund is doing much to support people in the South West, by funding a range of projects:

• Catalyst Pluss in Devon supports people with disabilities to enter employment through social enterprise business models
• Resolve Wiltshire College works to engage young people who are not in education, employment and training (NEET) by supporting them to develop their own 13-week programme.
• In Weston Super Mare and Bristol, Tomorrow’s People’s Working Communities provided intensive tailored support combined with sector-aware employer engagement to bring sustained employment to the hardest to help.
• SLIM (Skills and Learning Intelligence Module) Alliance based at Exeter University, delivered topical events which gave partners the chance to discuss key issues across the South West, and demonstrated good practice in partnership work.
• Social Enterprise Leadership Partnership (SELP) worked with social entrepreneurs across the South West. They developed and delivered and accredited Level 5 Social Enterprise Leadership qualification.
• SOFA supported offenders preparing for release by giving them experience of a real work place environment, recycling and retailing furniture.

The development of a low-carbon economy is a priority, with ESF projects directly tackling the issue and seeking new development opportunities. Examples of this include Parklife in Gloucester, which delivers environmental tools and techniques to small businesses, and South West Enabling Environmental Techniques (SWEET), which supports SMEs with level 3 training on environmental sustainability.

During 2011 the South West's economic performance is unlikely to be able to diverge markedly from the rest of the UK. Its dependence on discretionary spend by residents and visitors to support demand and jobs may mean that it performs less well. Many sectors and places may be adversely affected, especially given lower public sector employment and procurement, stagnant wages and higher prices for necessities (SWRDA 2010).

ESF delivery in the South West

Three CFOs – the Skills Funding Agency, National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – deliver the ESF programme in the South West.

The South West received £345 million for the 2007–2013 ESF programme. This Competitiveness funding aims to:

• address worklessness and improve workforce skills
• stimulate innovation and promote added value industries
• encourage enterprise and sustainable growth
• unlock the
• economic potential of place.

The South West Regional Employment and Skills Board (SWRESB) is the key decision-making body for skills in the South West. Its four priorities are:

• management and leadership
• enterprise skills
• innovation and creativity
• level 3 and higher-level skills.

Sub-priorities are:

• those who are NEET
• migrant workers
• IAG.