Consultation on Draft National Strategic Reference Framework

1
Consultation on Draft National Strategic
Reference Framework

• EU Structural Funds 2007 2013

2
What are we consulting on?

• The draft National Strategic Reference Framework
• Allocations under the Competitiveness Objective
• Administrative arrangements for delivery

3
The timetable

• Consultation will run from 28 February to 22 May
  2006
• DTI to publish responses on website at end of
  consultation
• DTI to produce a response to consultation and
  final NSRF within 3 months i.e. by mid August 2006

4
What is the National Framework?

• A requirement of the new Structural Funds
  Regulations for 2007 - 2013.
• Purpose to strengthen the strategic focus of
  future spending on the Lisbon agenda.
• Will provide the basis for developing new
  Structural Fund Programmes later in 2006

5
Structure and contents of the UKs draft Framework

• Structure and contents reflect the UKs devolved
  arrangements for regional policy
• An overview, providing a summary of Government
  strategy for regional development.
• Five chapters for England, Scotland, Wales,
  Northern Ireland and Gibraltar

6
England Chapter

• Aim to increase growth via employment and
  productivity
• Despite good macroeconomic performance, regional
  disparities and low employment and skills remain
  critical issues for England
• Broad distinction between Greater South East and
  North, Midlands and South West
• This is reflected in Govt aims to reduce gap in
  growth rates and stretching employment and skills
  targets

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Priorities Activities

• National priorities, but for regions to determine
  regional emphasis.
• Expectation of focus and concentration
• NSRF offers examples of actions to deliver the
  priorities
• Regions to determine exact activities.
• NSRF is not an OP!

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Convergence Programme

• 3 ERDF Priorities
• Promoting Innovation and knowledge transfer
• Stimulating enterprise and business development
• Improving accessibility and connectivity

9
Competitiveness Programmes

• 4 ERDF Priorities
• Promoting Innovation and Knowledge transfer
• Stimulating enterprise and supporting successful
  business
• Ensuring sustainable development, production and
  consumption
• Building Sustainable Communities

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Policy Context

• Programmes to be developed in line with existing
  regional strategies, e.g. RES, RSS
• Concentration and targeting including addressing
  city regions, therefore
• Fewer bigger transformational regeneration
  projects at regional and sub regional level

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Policy Context

• Sub regional issues within context of regional
  strategies
• Sustainable Communities actions at local level
  where they have impact and can be delivered
  efficiently and effectively
• Expectation of delivery via alignment with
  domestic funding streams, e.g. single pot, NRF,
  LEGI

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European Social Fund - Programme

• England ESF programme
• Regional flexibility to emphasise employment and
  skills issues identified in regional strategies
  
• Ring-fenced Convergence funding for Cornwall and
  phasing-in funding for Merseyside and South
  Yorkshire

13
European Social Fund - Priorities

• Priorities must
• address European Employment Strategy
  recommendations to UK (e.g. increase employment
  prospects of disadvantaged groups train low
  skilled workers)
• add value to strategies in UK National Reform
  Programme
• respond to regional needs and issues

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European Social Fund - Priorities

• 1. Extending employment opportunities
• 2. Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce
• plus similar Convergence priorities for Cornwall
• and Technical Assistance

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European Social Fund Priority 1

• Extending employment opportunities examples of
  actions
• Improve employability and skills of unemployed
  and inactive people
• Overcome barriers to work faced by disadvantaged
  groups (e.g. disabled, lone parents, older
  workers, ethnic minorities)
• Support community projects to help disadvantaged
  people into labour market

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European Social Fund Priority 2

• Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce
  examples of actions
• Increase participation and attainment by young
  people
• Improve adult basic skills
• Help low skilled workers gain level 2 and 3
  qualifications
• Reduce gender segregation in labour market
• Develop skills of managers and workers in small
  businesses

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European Social Fund - Delivery

• Key principles
• Strategic alignment with domestic employment and
  skills funding streams
• Regional flexibility Regional Skills
  Partnerships
• Simple system that allows providers to access a
  single funding stream
• Mainstreaming equal opportunities
• Partnership

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Question and answer session