2007-2013 Programmes : ESF Programme
The European Social Fund (ESF) programme for 2007-2013 aims to address social inequalities within and across regions by improving the general performance of the labour market, in particular in relation to marginalized groups.
A stable or reducing working-age population sustaining a larger elderly population in the region will not be possible. Although people will live longer overall, many will do so in poor health, and in relative poverty depending on the area in which they live, and their work experience. For individuals born into poor households, the gap with the most affluent households in Scotland could widen even further in terms of health, behaviour and employment outcomes unless intervention is taken.
Better skills help improve individual life chances, increase the flexibility of the labour force and increases the economy's competitiveness. Scotland has to embrace the knowledge economy and the reality of continual learning if it is to compete in the global marketplace. What cannot be accepted is the opportunity gap between those who achieve their full potential and those who do not; the skills gap between those in work and those who are not; and the productivity gap between Scotland and the leading economies of the world.
The Programme cannot support all activities that can contribute to these challenges, but will concentrate support on those areas where additionality and added value can be clearly demonstrated.
Seven key challenges have been identified:
- Reducing the acute levels of worklessness in certain groups and areas
- Improving employment rates in those groups facing multiple barriers
- Increasing the ability of the low-waged and low-skilled to remain in, and progress through the labour market to achieve financial security
- Tackling gender representation in key occupations and sectors of under-represented groups
- Increasing the skills of entrepreneurs and new managers
- Providing social enterprise managers and workers with greater skills to sustain their organisations
- Increasing lifelong learning participation rates among the most disadvantaged groups
The Programme will make its principal contributions by:
- acting as a lever to encourage domestic resources to focus on the key development challenges
- encouraging partnership working to support beneficiaries on their pathway as they move closer to labour market participation
- supporting beneficiaries and employers at the critical period of entry into employment or education
- progressing supported beneficiaries into more sustainable, productive employment
- increasing the skills level of supported beneficiaries
- increasing access to lifelong learning among targeted groups so that they are able to take responsibility for their future progress, reducing the inequalities between the least advantaged and the rest of society
The ESF Programme operates through three sets of Objectives to address market failures in the following areas:
Priority 1 - Progressing Into Employment
Priority 2 - Progressing Through Employment
Priority 3 - Improving Access to Lifelong Learning
The following sections detail the specific policy objectives under each of the Priorities.
A Summary of the Eligible Activities under each ESF Priority is also available to download.
