Welcome Marches LEP - Wider Group Event EU Structural and Investment Fund Growth Programme Social Inclusion Tuesday 13 th May 2014 Craven Arms Community Centre
Today’s Agenda
Introduction Alex Fitzpatrick • Welcome • Housekeeping • Background
Overarching view of the LEP Fiona Fortune
Overarching View of the Marches LEP Marches LEP Board – development and delivery • Signed off the Marches LEP European Structural and Investment Funds Strategy • Developing governance structure, which will need to be compliant with EU funding regulations and government guidance • Identify Board Champions for each Strategic Activity – one for social inclusion Reference Groups • Two reference groups (ERDF/EAFRD and ESF) • Provide stakeholder input into delivery arrangements for the Marches ESIF • Enables and encourages cross Strategic Activity working Strategic Activity Groups • One for each Strategic Activity – 5 groups, social inclusion mini-group set up • Tasked to shape activity and manage day to day delivery • Include Board Champion and appropriate representation • Can have sub-groups, for social inclusion CLLD group Note: The Marches LEP is working with government to create a process for approving projects and programmes and this may involve another group being established
The Marches LEP Board Graham Wynn OBE Chair of Telford and Wrekin Economic Development Board Councillor Kuldip Sahota Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council Bill Jackson Chairman of the Hereford Enterprise Zone Board Councillor John Jarvis Leader of Herefordshire Council Peter Brown Chair of Herefordshire Business Board Mandy Thorn Chair of Shropshire Business Board Councillor Keith Barrow Leader of Shropshire Council Professor Ian Oakes Marches LEP Higher Education Champion Sir Ben Gill CBE Marches LEP Co-opted Business Champion
Recap on Strategies and Feedback Fiona Fortune
RECAP ON Marches LEP European Structural and Investment Funds Strategy and Feedback Marches LEP European Structural and Investment Funds Strategy (ESIF) • Submitted – end January 2014 • Government feedback received – end March 2014 • Response to Government required – end May 2014 • Delivery can’t start until operational programme is signed off Annual implementation Plans will be needed (December for following year)
UK Government Agreements Partnership Agreement between UK Government and Europe • Outlines how the UK government proposes to manage the EU funds • Submitted April 2014 Operational Programmes (separate for ERDF, ESF and EAFRD) • ERDF and ESF programmes out for consultation • EAFRD is still being drawn up • Operational Programmed will need to be submitted for European approval towards end of year • Once approved, UK programme can be launched – likely mid 2015 So mid 2015 before Marches LEP European Structural and Investment Funds Strategy is signed off and delivery can start
The Marches LEP European Structural and Investment Funds Strategy (ESIF) 2014-2020 The ESIF Combines: • ERDF, ESF and EAFRD Five Strategic Activities 1. Enhancing Competitiveness, Research and Innovation and Enabling Technology 2. Supporting the Shift Towards a Low Carbon Economy 3. Supporting the Environment 4. Skills and Employment 5. Social Inclusion Note: Social inclusion is also reflected in other Strategic Activities, such as digital inclusion in Strategic Activity 1
Social Inclusion – 4 Sub-Priorities (with indicative activities) • 5.1 - Provide the means through which under-represented groups BECOME WORK READY , and are able to access learning, training and job opportunities • 5.2 - Engaging and supporting under-represented groups to enable them to OVERCOME BARRIERS to employment • 5.3 - Develop capacity at a local level which SUPPORTS AND EMPOWERS under-represented groups • 5.4 - Target GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS with high levels of unemployment, low education attainment levels and low income through a Community Led Local Development approach
Social Inclusion Indicators Result Indicators (ESF) Number of participants engaged in positive activities that address barriers to work or widen participating in training (for example improving basic skills or life skills, volunteering in the community, undertaking work experience Output Indicators (ERDF) Number of enterprises receiving support, including social enterprises Output Indicators (ESF) Total number of participants Number of unemployed (including long term unemployed) participants Number of inactive participants Number of employed (including self employed) participants Number of participants aged 15-24
Marches European Investment Framework 7 years (2014 – 2020) Social Inclusion Funding Amount (Stirling @ 0.85620) allocation Strategic Activity 5 – More ESF £2,119,775 Developed Strategic Activity 5 – ESF £4,923,975 Transition CLLD – More Developed ESF £374,078 CLLD -Transition ESF £868,936 CLLD – More Developed ERDF £374,078 CLLD - Transition ERDF £1,303,405 More Developed – Herefordshire Transition area – Shropshire and Telford& Wrekin Investment profiled across the 7 years – subject to EU and government
EU SOCIAL INCLUSION MATCH FUNDING OPTIONS Fiona Fortune/Sonia Roberts
No Money Without Match • Potential Partners – Other voluntary/private sector organisations – Statutory Partners – ‘Call Out’ for Match Partners – BIG LOTTERY
BIG LOTTERY OPT IN
Progress To Date • 2 Meetings • Agree in principle • Minimum 2 year Opt-in • Defining a process with timescales • Who’s matching who!
Positives • Big understand the VCSE – Funding is primarily distributed through the VCSE – Can broker strong partnership between VCSE, Private sector and statutory services – Grant based funding – Focus on impact – Involve people – Local projects
Concerns • EU funding – Targets and Impact – Payment by results – Stringent EU regulations on evidencing claims – Claw backs – Process and procedures
Exercise 1 – Pros & Cons Using the flipchart paper list the Pros and Cons for the options of match funding under the following headings: - Lottery opt-in - Securing match from other large funders e.g. Princes Trust - VCS organisations find their own match - Other options (please specify in detail)
Coffee Break
Exercise 2 – Strategic Activities Part 1: Complete the strategic activities document on your table in as much detail as possible. You have 45 minutes. When filling out the document please consider the following focus points: - Activities must be associated with getting people back into employment - Activities must be written to inform a tender specification - Activities are not about individual organisations - Must focus on collaborative and innovative working - Avoid activities that are already well funded - The activities listed will not be recognised as a pitch - Recognise that the activities must be based on Social Inclusion and the indicative activities listed in the ESIF Strategy – please take care that your ideas do not refer to activities that would come under Employment & Skills. Part 2: The facilitator will then pin up the completed documents on the walls. Using the post it notes provided please make any comments or notes. You will have 20 minutes to complete this part of the exercise.
Group Discussion George Kinnell In your groups, you have 35 minutes to discuss the following questions. Please make notes on the flipchart paper provided. 1. What are the challenges of accessing EU Funding? 2. What opportunities does EU funding provide? 3. What are the advantages/disadvantages of EU Funding? 4. What key skills and knowledge do organisations need to access EU Funding? 5. What support is needed in the Marches LEP to access EU Funding?
Feedback from Group Discussion
Next Steps and Priorities Fiona Fortune
Next Steps 1. Government Feedback 2. Marches LEP Board Governance – Board Champion – Compact MOU signed by LEP – Understanding how Social Inclusion fits in with other programmes 3. Continue dialogue with BIG Lottery 4. CLLD 5. West Midlands LEP Meeting regarding BIG Lottery
Taking forward from today… Preparation for delivery Design of programmes Supporting the VCSE with capacity building Next Stakeholder Event • Implementation • Should we link in with another area for our next event?
How ready we are? Summary of responses… • How many have delivered EU funding before Yes -46% No – 54% • Levels of experience of EU funding 1-5: 63% 6-10: 37% • Confidence in delivering EU Funding 1-5: 47% 6-10: 53%
Thank you for attending
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