2007-2013 Programmes : ESF Priority 1 - Progressing Into Employment
The aim of the Priority is to assist the co-ordinated progress of unemployed and inactive people of all ages towards sustainable employment.
Some groups of individuals face multiple barriers to entering employment and retaining jobs. Priority will be given to the hardest-to-reach, workless groups, those experiencing multiple disadvantage and those in the former NEET group, as well as:
- Long-term unemployed/inactive people
- 16-19 year olds not in education, employment or training
- Young people identified as being at risk of not entering education, employment or training on leaving school
- Unemployed/inactive lone parents and other carers
- Unemployed/inactive people with mental health problems, long-term illness, disabilities or learning difficulties
- Older people seeking to re-enter the labour force or requiring re-skilling to enable them to remain in the workforce
- Other disadvantaged unemployed/inactive groups such as prisoners prior to release, ex-offenders, people with drug or alcohol problems, homeless people and refugees
- Unemployed/inactive people from ethnic minority groups
- Individuals experiencing persistent part-time/seasonal employment
- Employers who recruit from the above groups and who need support in retaining and developing these employees
Projects should target these hardest-to-reach groups, notably those with mutiple deprivations; at-risk youngsters, especially those not engaged with the worlds of work or learning, and employers who recruit from such groups. Approaches might include:
- Early engagement
- Customised support
- Basic skills and confidence building
- Volunteering and work experience
- Intermediate labour market activities
- Working with employers to help vulnerable groups join the workforce
- Spatial targeting
Delivery
Individual projects will be eligible, though the emphasis will be on projects that integrate several of the eligible activities. For the first two years of the Programme a share of funding from ESF Priority 1 will be set aside to fund projects that are part of integrated packages of support put forward by Community Planning Partnerships
Spatial Targeting
Under ESF Priority 1 a level of spatial targeting has been implemented. Areas will be eligible based on an annually reviewed and published list of local authorities meeting two criteria: the 10 authorities with the biggest share of the worst 15 per cent of deprived neighbourhoods and; the 7 authorities with the worst incidence of people not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET).
The following local authority areas are currently eligible for support under this Priority:
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
- East Ayrshire
- Edinburgh
- Fife
- Glasgow
- Inverclyde
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Renfrewshire
- South Lanarkshire
- West Dunbartonshire
- West Lothian
The Maximum Grant Intervention Rate is 45%
Programme Managers
To discuss possible funding opportunities under ESF Priority 1 please contact:
Billy Love
0141 241 6156
blove@esep.co.uk
Lynda Peacock-Smith
0141 241 6157
lpeacock@esep.co.uk
