European Social Fund in England

FAQs 2000 -2006

Q. Can individuals and/or students apply for ESF Funding?

A. No. Individuals cannot apply for ESF. Any organisation either public or private which is legally formed, except sole traders, can apply for ESF. If you are a student you may wish to try the DFES website for information on possible funding assistance http://www.dfes.gov.uk/studentsupport/.

Q. How does UK/England benefit from ESF?

A. About £5 billion of ESF is available in the UK (£4 billion in England) in 2000-06 to add value to policies and programmes set out in the National Action Plan for Employment. ESF helps people throughout the UK who need additional support to enter jobs, improve their skills and develop their potential at work. Many of these people face disadvantage in the labour market, including long term unemployed people and those lacking basic skills and qualifications.

Q. Why has Co-Financing been introduced?

A. Co-financing helps ESF to add value to the employment and skills strategies set out in the UK National Action Plan for Employment - a requirement of EU regulations. The two major Co-financing Organisations are Jobcentre Plus and the LSC, which are responsible for delivering many of the initiatives set out in the National Action Plan. They are using ESF to offer additional and enhanced support to people from deprived communities and excluded groups, over and above that available through mainstream programmes. Co-financing also makes access to ESF easier and helps reduce administrative burdens on applicants. For example, applicants no longer need to find their own match funding before they can apply for ESF.

Q. Who can benefit from an ESF funded project?

A. Any person who lives legally in the UK or Gibraltar and meets all the requirements for the measure appropriate to the Objective or Community Initiative. For ESF purposes, people who benefit from ESF funded projects are known as beneficiaries. Employees might also be beneficiaries where the project is funded under a measure to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The main definition of an SME is an enterprise that employs fewer than 250 people.

Q. I am delivering an ESF project. Where can I access guidance on publicity issues, including how to access and use the ESF logo?

A. Guidance on all publicity issues, including how to access and use the ESF logo is available on this website. For further advice and guidance you should contact your Government Office or Co-financing Organisations.

Q. Can I obtain ESF Promotional items?

A. There is no central source of ESF promotional items. ESF providers can produce their own promotional items, or contact their Government Office ESF team or Co-financing Organisations for advice.

Q. Who do I need to contact about an LSC ESF query?

A. Contact your local Learning and Skill Council for advice - http://www.lsc.gov.uk/national/default.htm

Q. Can ESF help me set up or expand a business?

A. Some ESF is being used to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SME), for example by encouraging entrepreneurship of individuals and companies and the competitiveness of businesses, or helping SMEs upgrade their employees vocational, basic and key skills. For further advice and guidance you should contact your Government Office ESF team. If you are seeking direct financial assistance or detailed advice on setting up in business contact your local Business Link for advice - http://www.businesslink.gov.uk Queries On ESF Guidance

Q. I have a query on the ESF guidance. Where can I obtain further assistance?

A. Please contact your Government Office ESF teams who should be able to assist with your query.

A. Each of these countries manage their own ESF programmes. Please refer to the telephone numbers and websites for these countries on the ESF website under Contacts.

Q. What is Match Funding?

A. Match funding is an essential part of how ESF works. ESF can only meet a part of the eligible costs of a project and the balance has to be found from other sources. Match funding is the amount organisations (other than ESF) give towards the eligible costs of a project. Match funding can be either public funding or a contribution of public and private funding. You must have public match funding for at least 10% of the total cost of the project.

Q. How long does the support last?

A. ESF support is available between 2000 and 2006 under the current EU regulations. This is known as a 'programme period'. The Government has agreed with the Commission that delivery activity under current programmes can run into 2008 Organisations can apply for more than one project during the programme period. We will usually support projects for no more than 24 months. Occasionally ESF may support some projects for up to 36 months.

Q. What project costs will ESF pay for?

A. ESF and the match funding can support all costs relating to project activity as l ong as they are actual, eligible and are included in the project specification. All costs, including any start up and project evaluation costs, must be incurred during the lifetime of the project. These can include staff and utilities (gas, water and electricity) costs.