European Social Fund

There is a single ESF programme for England managed nationally by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with the twin aims of extending employment opportunities and developing a skilled and adaptable workforce.   The West Midlands has received €372m (about £243m) from the programme.

A regional ESF Framework was produced by the Regional Skills Partnership which has been approved and signed off.  The framework has been produced to ensure that ESF activity addresses regional employment and skills priorities.  The programme will be delivered through two co-financing organisations – the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Jobcentre Plus / Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who were awarded co-financing status by the Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) in October 2007. Work is now taking place on the submission of bids and awarding of contracts to projects.

Further details on the ESF programme are available on the ESF and GOWM websites accessible through the ‘Related links’ section.