Funds for UK regions approved

Citation

(2000), "Funds for UK regions approved", Education + Training, Vol. 42 No. 9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2000.00442iab.001

Funds for UK regions approved

Funds for UK regions approved

Keywords United Kingdom, Training, Skills, Funding, European Union

A seven-year programme for regional development in the UK, worth more than £3 billion of EU financing, has been approved by the European Commission.

The structural funds will go to four Objective 1 areas – Merseyside, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, South Yorkshire, and West Wales and the Valleys. The funding will mobilize more than £7.131 million of investment, of which about 20 per cent will be co-financed from the private sector.

It is estimated that the programmes will bring the equivalent of 154,000 new jobs and provide training in new skills for 420,000 people. The funds will enhance the competitiveness of these regions, modernizing the industrial base, encouraging high-growth sectors, improving skills and promoting the information society.

Under three separate programmes agreed by the Commission, employment and training initiatives in the UK will benefit from £2.97 billion in EU funding over seven years. All three programmes, under Objective 3 of the EU's structural funds, will run from 2000 to 2006.

The programme for England has an overall budget of £5.7 billion-£2.8 billion from the UK public sector, £2.5 billion from the EU and the rest from other sources. The priorities of the programme (and budget share) are: lifelong learning (28 per cent); combating unemployment (25 per cent); promoting equal opportunities and access to the labour market (25 per cent); skills and entrepreneurship (13 per cent); and promoting participation by women in the labour market (7 per cent). The budget includes 2 per cent for technical assistance to support implementation and evaluation. Overall responsibility for the programme lies with the Department for Education and Employment, but has a regional focus.

The programme for Scotland has an overall budget of £693 million – £298 million from the UK public sector; £312 million from the EU; and £83 million from other sources. The main priorities are: equal opportunities in the labour market (37 per cent); tackling long-term unemployment (23 per cent); promoting entrepreneurship (22 per cent); learning and training in all sectors (10 per cent); and promoting participation by women in the labour market (7 per cent). The budget includes 1 per cent for technical assistance. This is the first time Scotland has had a separate programme of this kind. It will be implemented by the Scottish executive. All the country is covered, except Highlands and Islands, which has its own programme.

The programme for east Wales has a £198 million budget – £101 million from the UK public sector; £82.7 million from the EU; and £14.6 million from other sources. The priorities are: tackling unemployment (25 per cent); promoting equal opportunities (21 per cent); skills for management and entrepreneurship (23 per cent); lifelong learning (22 per cent); and gender equality (7 per cent). The budget includes 2 per cent for technical assistance. This is the first time that Wales has had a separate programme of this kind. It will be overseen by the Welsh national assembly.

In addition, a £534 million programme for Highlands and Islands will create or safeguard 11,000 jobs, provide training for 23,000 people and help 3,500 small firms. The money includes £193 million from the EU, £230 million from the public sector and £111 million from the private sector.