South West Competitiveness ERDF Operational Programme 20072013

1
South West Competitiveness ERDFOperational
Programme 2007-2013

• Stakeholder Workshop
• February 2007

2
Economic Context - Summary

• At the aggregate level, employment and enterprise
  performance is strong
• Parts of the region characterised by lower value
  added and lower paid sectors
• Significant intra regional disparities
• Current productivity levels low
• Significant strengths
• Diverse in economic terms

3
Policy Context

• The major focus is on Lisbon (competitiveness), a
  different agenda focused on innovation, research
  and enterprise
• Greater emphasis on alignment with existing
  strategies, notably the Regional Economic
  Strategy

4
The Programme Objectives

• Increasing productivity through innovation,
  research and development
• Reduce intra regional disparities
• Reduce the levels of worklessness
• Reducing carbon emissions, moving towards a low
  carbon economy

5
Proposed Priority Structure

• Innovation and Knowledge
• Enterprise and Growth
• Sustainable Communities

6
Challenge

• With only 80m over seven, years, some 12m per
  annum, how do we invest ERDF to most make a
  difference?
• Should we narrow down further, to fewer but more
  significant interventions?

7
Innovation and knowledge

• Knowledge networks supporting ideas, innovation
  and knowledge
• Strengthening HE centres in FE centres
• Environmental technologies and renewable energy

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Enterprise and Growth

• Internationalisation
• Supporting high growth businesses
• Environmental Efficiency
• Environmental Technologies and Renewable Energy

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Sustainable Communities Task and Finish Group
Issues

• Focus on LEGI type initiatives
• Is there scope for an innovative micro-finance
  initiative?
• How do we align with conventional business
  support and likely ESF interventions with regard
  to enterprise and addressing worklessness
• What are the effective delivery arrangements

10
Cross-Cutting Theme Environment

• Regional cross-fund Environment Group
• Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Low Carbon Economy

11
Cross-Cutting Theme Equality and Diversity

• Equality Impact Assessment
• Regional Equality and Diversity Group

12
Process

• Consultation deadline 16th February
• Re-drafting following consultation responses and
  task and finish groups
• Endorsement by South West Programme Monitoring
  Committee
• Submission to Whitehall for endorsement
• Submission to European Commission start 4
  months negotiation period
• Autumn 2007 target start

13
ESF Update

• Extending Employment Opportunities
• Young people Worklessness Disadvantaged Groups
• Developing A Skilled and Adaptable Workforce
• 14-19 year olds Learners Adult Learning and
  Skills
• Workforce Development

14
ESF Process

• Regional ESF Framework being developed a three
  year plan
• Being developed under the auspices of the
  Regional Skills Partnership
• National Priorities being reviewed to take
  account of South West South West issues and
  policy
• Work will be completed by end of March 2007
• CFO tenders likely to be issued in autumn
• Project activity will commence January 2008

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Key Workshop Questions

• For each Priority, what are the key challenges?
• For each Priority, what do we need to focus on to
  make a difference?
• What role can ESF play in contributing to
  Priority objectives?
• Aspiring to a low carbon economy is a new
  proposal how do we make it work?