2007-2013 Programmes : ESF Priority 2 - Progressing Through Employment
The aim of the Priority is to improve the skills of the workforce to enhance employability, productivity, adaptability, inclusion and entrepreneurial expertise.
ESF will provide support to those projects that offer substantial investment in the training of employees to raise the skills of the workforce and Scotland's global competitiveness. The key groups that this Priority seeks to assist include:
- Employees who lack basic core skills, including those having low levels of literacy and numeracy, and those for whom English is not their first language
- Employees without qualifications at SCQF Level 5 and 6 (SVQ Level 2 or 3)
- Specific groups, such as women returners
- Potential and new entrepreneurs and new managers of both new and existing SMEs
- Key staff in social enterprises
Four groups of activities are envisaged in this Priority:
- Support for low-skilled/low-paid workers, for example through vocational training
- Addressing gender imbalances in the workforce, notably through specialist training and mentoring programmes
- Improving managerial skills, for example through managerial, e-business and commercial training and helping less-represented groups start businesses
- Assistance and support to social enterprises to gain the skills and capacity the need to succeed
Preference will be given to projects which can demonstrate an innovative approach to the activity or represent the mainstreaming or rolling-out of a pilot approach which has tested successfully.
Delivery
All of ESF Priority 2 will be challenge funding, open to all eligible applicants.
Spatial Targeting
There is no spatial targeting under Priority 2 and therefore applications will be accepted from all parts of the Lowlands and Uplands Programme area.
The Maximum Grant Intervention Rate is 45%
Programme Manager
To discuss possible funding opportunities under ESF Priority 2 please contact:
Lynda Peacock-Smith
0141 241 6157
lpeacock@esep.co.uk
