EU SIF Briefing Session:

Transcription

1 EU SIF Briefing Session: BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE FUNDS GOVERNANCE BUSINESS PROCESS STRATEGY EVERYTHING ELSE (Q+A)

2 EU SIF Briefing: Three European Union Structural and Investment Funds (EU SIF): European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) European Social Fund (ESF) European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)

3 EU SIF Briefing: European Context EU SIF is part of Europe 2020: Employment: at 75% Innovation: 3% investment of GDP in R+D Education: reduce early school leaving by 10% Social Inclusion: 20m less people at risk of poverty Climate change/energy: 20%/20%/20% (less greenhouse emissions, more renewable energy, more energy efficiency)

4 EU SIF Briefing: Changes/different emphasis from previous Programme: More flexibility to align the funds Thematic Concentration Place based approaches Promoting Equality

5 EU SIF Briefing: Country specific hints from EU: Employability of young people Raising skills levels to match demands of the economy Labour market integration of people from jobless households Child poverty and childcare costs SME financing (bank and non-bank)

6 EU SIF Briefing: Thematic Concentration: ERDF At least 20% of ERDF spend on Low Carbon. At least 80% of ERDF on Innovation, ICT, SME competitiveness and Low Carbon No minimum spend required on the other Themes ESF At least 20% on Social Inclusion The remainder on no more than 4 objectives within TOs 8, 9 and 10

7 EU SIF Governance: National Programmes Central government departments are Managing Authorities: ERDF Dept. for Communities and Local Government ESF Dept. for Work and Pensions EAFRD Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

8 EU SIF Governance: National structures: Growth Programme Board (Programme Management Committee) National strategies and plans: 1 x Partnership Agreement 3 x Operational Programmes

9 EU SIF Governance: National Eligibility and Selection criteria ERDF: Who can apply? - anyone provided you are legally constituted Consortiums Yes with a lead partner

10 EU SIF Governance: Match funding must be available from the outset In kind contributions are INELIGIBLE with a few exceptions Funding for staff costs are eligible as match (with some rules) provided they are directly involved in delivery of the project

11 EU SIF Governance: ESF: Who can apply? - anyone provided you are legally constituted and on SFAs procurement register (ROTO) Consortiums Yes with a lead partner and consistent with normal SFA rules Match funding all of our ESF is co-financed, so match is available

12 EU SIF Local Governance: Role of LEPs: Prepare Strategies back in early 2013 (and did so) LEPs will not be Intermediate Bodies They were asked to convene LEP Area Committees LEPs are represented on the Committee but are equal voice to all others

13 EU SIF Local Governance: The role of the local Committee: A key advisory role while decisions will remain with the Managing Authorities

14 EU SIF Business Process: Three ways in to the Programme: ERDF by Call ESF by procurement process (SFA) by application to a fund (BLF) EAFRD by application to a fund

15 EU SIF Business Process: Local Committee shapes the call or specification through its advice to the Managing Authorities Call or Procurement is written and issued by the Managing Authority (with local context) Call or Procurement is issued far and wide, applications and tenders go back to Managing Authority

16 EU SIF Business Process: For ESF all tenders are considered by the Committee and advice is given on local strategic fit before appointment.

17 EU SIF Business Process: For ERDF two stage process: Initial applications to the call come back to the Local Committee for advice Some, all or none invited to make full application Full applications come back to the Committee for final advice before grant awards

18 EU SIF Business Process: How long will all this take? Hofstadter s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter s Law

19 EU SIF Strategy: National Programmes have been constructed using each of the 39 LEP Strategies. LEP Strategies - Guided by the Thematic Concentration rules and the Strategic Economic Plan. Written, in the main, during the autumn of Drafting group and SEP/SIF Board then through the LEP Board

20 EU SIF Strategy: West of England LEP area has a SIF allocation worth 60.1m made up of three elements: ERDF ESF EAFRD m m - 1.4m

21 EU SIF Strategy: Programme Activity EU SIF Funding Innovation 1: Creating effective, growth orientated research collaborations between public and private organisations for key sectors and clusters. 5m 2: Creation of an environment and infrastructure which supports growth through research and innovation. 2m 3: Initiatives to stimulate the development of market ready new products and services, business process and innovation m Supporting SME growth 4. Increasing growth capability in SMEs by providing access to business support services, including funding m (ERDF) and 1.4m (EAFRD) 5. Helping businesses with the potential to succeed in International markets. 3m Low Carbon and the natural environment 6. Stimulating growth in Low Carbon industries and contributing towards the decarbonisation of the West of England economy. 6.5m 7. Using the environment as an enabler as opposed to a blocker and supporting resource efficiency measures 0.5m

22 EU SIF Strategy: Employability 8. Support to improve employability and employment for NEET and those at risk of NEET (16-24) 3m 9. Support to improve employability and employment for m Employer and Individual engagement in skills provision 10. Removing barriers to employment 6m 11. Increasing effective employer engagement and ownership of the skills agenda, including improving the labour market relevance of education and training. 11m 12. Improving Careers advice and labour market transparency for individuals, employers, educators and advisors 1m

23 EU SIF Local Committee: The Investment Board (9 representatives 4 LA, 4 Private Sector (counted as LEP representatives) and the LEP Chief Executive) DCLG and DEFRA (as managing authorities and DWP if required) BIS Local Higher Education Further Education Bristol City Council as a SUD area. Equalities and diversity Voluntary and community sector (VCSE) Trade union and /or employer Representative trade bodies (FSB, Chamber, IoD, etc) Rural representative (an application to form a LAG group is in process) Environmental / sustainable development