The European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)

esif

 

The 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme provides funds to help local areas stimulate growth. The funds support investment in innovation, businesses, skills and employment to improve local growth and create jobs.

A single ESIF Growth Programme has been set up to combine three separate European Funds. The Growth Programme provides funding to help projects in England that create jobs and economic growth.
These are:

See further information on ESIF

The local priorities for the three funds are detailed in the Lancashire ESIF Strategy. Please note that the Strategy is currently still draft and is awaiting to be updated once Lancashire's programme outputs have been agreed and the Strategy approved by the National ESIF Growth Board.

These funds will be delivered in two main ways; Open Calls and Opt Ins.

Opt Ins

This is the mechanism for the local ESIF Partnership to utilise match funding from other organisations in order to be able to draw down ESIF resources. The Opt In organisations provide a level of match funding and are allocated a proportion of ESIF resources. The Opt In organisation then allocates funding using its own processes and monitors the performance of the activity it is funding.

Currently there are three ESF Opt Ins in operation and further details can be obtained via the following websites;

In order to support project development in Lancashire the Lottery established a Programme Development Fund (PDF) and this funding was awarded to One Lancashire who can be contacted to discuss any detailed issues.

More Opt Ins are planned throughout the life of the ESIF programme and further details will be made available when they are approved.

Open Calls

This is the more traditional method for allocating ESIF funds whereby providers are asked to submit proposals to deliver specific types of activity using their own match funding. The details of Open Calls will be agreed by the local ESIF Partnership; with the details on the relevant Government department websites.

 

Calls Currently Open for Applications

 

NOTE TO APPLICANTS - New Application Forms: The Managing Authorities have released updated versions of the outline and full application forms that must be completed when applying for funding. The new forms can be accessed here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-outline-application

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-full-application

 

ERDF

There are a number of calls that are currently open for applications. Please click on the hyperlinks below to access the call details. The deadline for submitting project proposals under all priorities is 17 February 2017.

**Please note the information below with regards to applications under P2

To enable applications under Investment Priority 2a  to prove market failure and not duplicate existing delivery, they will need to be assessed against current and planned Superfast Broadband rollouts in Lancashire. In advance of the submission of an IP2a application, applicants will need to contact the Superfast Lancashire Programme Office to check whether the postcodes they are intending to deliver to are already in a public or commercial Superfast Broadband rollout. Applicants will need to provide details of relevant postcodes to enable coverage to be checked. Any project that does not include postcode data in its application and check coverage in advance of submission will be deemed ineligible. The Superfast Lancashire Programme office will endeavour to respond as accurately and speedily as possible to queries relating to 2a applications.  The Superfast Programme office can be contacted via superfast@lancashire.gov.uk Please note that the Programme office will not be accepting telephone queries.

 

ESF

There is currently one call for projects open - ESF IP 2.2 Skills for Growth. The deadline for applciations is 10 March 2017. Please click on the link below for further information.

 

EAFRD

There are currently two EARFD calls open - Food Processing and Rural Tourism. Please use the link below to access the call information, which can be found in the corresponding Handbook:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdpe-growth-programme

Previous Open Calls

The following calls were launched earlier this year and are now closed;

 

In addition the BIG Lottery held an application round for projects supporting Individuals 50+ with Low or No Skills and Young People who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET; this round is closed.

For further details please visit the biglotteryfund.org.uk website.

ESIF Partnership committee

The committee is run by Department of Communities and Local Government DCLG.

For further information please contact Emma Colledge, Neil Roberts, Sean McGrath or Shabana Patel,  External Funding and Investment, at Lancashire County Council.

Downloads

Draft ESIF Strategy For Lancashire 1 Oct 15