Doncaster Council

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF)

The Yorkshire and the Humber region (Y&H) will benefit from the European Union’s Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective.

• The National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page28796.html) sets out the UK’s priorities for EU funds. These are split between ERDF (60%) and ESF (40%).

• One European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Programme will operate across the whole region, within which there will be ring-fenced funding specifically for the former Objective 1 region of South Yorkshire www.gos.gov.uk/goyh/eurofund/strucfunds0713)

• The European Social Fund (ESF) programme focuses on the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in the labour market including the unemployed, the economically inactive, and those without basic skills.  In developing this focus the Government seeks to ensure that the ESF will support the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion www.esf.gov.uk/01_News/00_Latest_-_Headlines/28_2007-2013_England)

• The total ERDF allocation for South Yorkshire is £166m; the total for the rest of the Y&H region is £186m. The total ESF allocation for South Yorkshire is £110m.

• For ESF funding the Dept of Work and Pensions (www.dwp.gov.uk) will act as the Accountable Body, but will work through regional Government Offices, co-financing contracts primarily with Job Centre Plus (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk) and Learning & Skills Councils (www.lsc.gov.uk)

• ERDF funding will be administered by the Regional Development Agencies (Yorkshire Forward) (www.yorkshire-forward.com)  although the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (www.dti.gov.uk) will remain the Accountable Body as far as the EU is concerned.

More Information

If you would like more information on the ERDF & ESF please do not hesitate to contact:

Joy Powell, Programmes Officer using the contact details provided at the top of this web page.