European Structural Investment Funds
27 August 2015
European Structural and Investment Funds available in the Solent.
The European Structural and Investment Fund Programme comprises three separate funds – the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) – all aiming to increase economic and social prosperity in the sub region, and to create a more competitive, prosperous and inclusive economy.
The funds are administered by central Government and all information in relation to funding opportunities available through European Structural and Investment Funds will be available at: www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds
The Solent LEP encourages local organisations to bid for this funding, which requires match funding and is profiled over a seven year period. Information in relation to current and past opportunities is available below.
Current Calls
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
Title: Business Development Grants
Summary: This call focuses on funding new and developing micro and small rural businesses through a rural grant scheme.
This call targets the Isle of Wight specifically. Other rural areas within the Solent will be out of scope for this call.
The call invites direct applications from rural businesses on the Isle of Wight.
The funding may be provided either to individual businesses or to businesses working together. We wish to, for example, encourage collaboration and applications from groups of enterprises seeking investment in shared facilities.
Applicants will need to demonstrate that their project will create jobs.
Funding available: A total of £150,000 is available and bids must be for a minimum of £10,000.
Closing Date: 30th October 2015
Link to further information: https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/sme-support-call-in-the-isle-of-wight-29rd15bs0001
European Regional Development Fund
Title: Graduate Placements
Summary: This call invites Outline Applications which support the delivery of a supported graduate internship and work placement programme. ERDF funding will provide a package of support, involving:
• A contribution to the cost of the graduate salary;
• Two hours per week of support from the knowledge base for each enterprise;
• A business development manager to assist the development of a project plan and to provide on-going project management and graduate mentoring;
• A high-quality recruitment and graduate matching service.
Funding available: The call is seeking to allocate £500,000 - £1,000,000 towards a 3 year contract. The European Regional Development Fund will contribute to a maximum overall programme value of £2m, which must include up to a £1m of private sector match levered in primarily through graduate salaries from employers.
Closing Date: 25 September 2015
Link to further information: https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/sme-support-call-in-solent-oc29r15p-0132
European Regional Development Fund
Title: SME Grant Programme
Summary: This call invites Outline Applications which support the delivery of a grant funding programme for SMEs in the Solent, to extend the grant programmes available to support new business start-ups and existing SMEs to expand and grow. Priority will be given to supporting new start-up or existing SMEs with high growth potential and we would like the grant programme to provide specific support to SMEs seeking to access global markets and / or export.
Funding available: The call is seeking to allocate £500,000 - £1,000,000 towards a 3 year programme. Match funding will be secured through SME's applying to the grant scheme itself, which will be required to secure 50% private match funding.
Closing Date: 25 September 2015
Link to further information: https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/sme-support-call-in-solent-oc29r15p-0133
European Social Fund
Title: Community Grants
Summary: To support and encourage local communities and communities of interest in creating projects, developed from the bottom up, that address exclusion by engaging local people in improving their own lives and that of their areas, the call seeks to create a Solent Community Grants programme. The programme will provide grants of up to £30,000 for small projects, led by citizens’ groups, voluntary and third sector organisations that help people to acquire skills needed to progress towards employment. Projects may be focused on supporting people living in areas of deprivation and/or those who experience significant barriers in the labour market.
Funding available: The call is seeking to allocate £300,000 - £500,000 towards a 2 year programme of activity. ESF can contribute up to 50% of the total eligible project costs. The remaining 50% or more must come from other eligible sources
Closing Date: 9 October 2015
Link to further information: https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/access-to-employment-project-call-in-solent-lep-area-oc29s15p0111
European Social Fund
Title: Solent Jobs Pilot
Summary: The call seeks to procure activity that links to and works in tandem to the activity being taken forward under the Southampton and Portsmouth City Deal agreement to provide a comprehensive programme of support across the entire Solent LEP geography. The Solent Jobs Programme will comprise of three main elements:
• Pre-employment support, Information Advice and Guidance and employability training;
• An intermediate labour market element / Transitional Employment Programme, which includes a subsidised job or paid work placement, for up to 25 hours per week for up to six months, paid at the national minimum wage, alongside caseworker support, skills and job search/ enterprise support;
• Intensive post-placement support and job matching.
Funding available: This call is for a 3 year proposal, with a minimum of £500,000 & maximum of £2m of ESF to be allocated. ESF can contribute up to 50% of the total eligible project costs. The remaining 50% or more must come from other eligible sources.
Closing Date: 9 October 2015
Link to further information: https://www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/access-to-employment-project-call-in-solent-lep-area-oc29s15p0112
Previous Calls
All calls listed below are now closed and information provided is for reference purposes only.
• Promoting Research and Innovation
We have moved - visit our new website www.solentpartners.com