European Social Fund in England

National Strategic Reference Framework

The UK has reached agreement with the European Commission on its National Strategic Reference Framework for Structural Fund programmes in 2007-2013. The strategy sets out how the UK will invest £6.7 billion of Structural Funds money over the next seven years in line with the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs.

The Framework, which was agreed on 30 July 2007, sets out two priorities for the European Social Fund (ESF) in England:

• extending employment opportunities by helping unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged people to improve their employability and skills; and
• developing a skilled and adaptable workforce, with a particular focus on people who lack basic skills and level 2 qualifications.

These two priorities will be supported by £2 billion of ESF money in England in 2007-2013. Further information on the new ESF programme for England is available here.

The UK National Strategic Reference Framework is at: www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page28796.html and a Commission press notice on the Framework is at http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/emplweb/news/news_en.cfm?id=278