Latest News Updates
JESSICA Scotland Fund – Pre-Call Exercise
7 July 2010
The JESSICA Scotland Fund was launched on 6 July 2010 by Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil. The new £50m Fund with £24m ERDF investment will help kickstart a range of regeneration projects in the target 13 local authority areas of the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland (LUPS) ERDF Programme.
Application Timetable for ERDF Priorities 3 and 4
1 July 2010
The Fourth Round Application timetable for ERDF Priority 3 and Priority 4 has now been agreed by Scottish Government.
Please note: Arrangements for committing the remaining funds under the European Social Fund (ESF) and Priorites 1 and 2 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) will be announced by Scottish Government through separate communication.
PMC Update and Information on Future Funding Rounds
25 May 2010
The Lowlands and Uplands 2007-13 Programme Monitoring Committee met in New Lanark on 19 May 2010. The main items discussed were:
- 1 - An update on the Scottish Economy. A presentation was given by Dr Graeme Roy, Scottish Government Economic Adviser.
- 2 - The draft Annual Implementation Reports for 2009: ESF and ERDF.
- 3 - 2 ESF project bids and 2 ERDF project bids brought forward under the exceptional projects procedure. Recommendations to Ministers on whether or not to support the projects were made.
- 4 - An update on progress on the implementation of JESSICA in Scotland.
- 5 - An update on the action plans to meet N+2 in 2010.
- 6 - Proposals by Scottish Government, following consultation with the Commission, for the remaining use of the ESF and ERDF programmes.
The Committee’s recommendations for Ministers were that there should be:
European Social Fund (ESF)
- A new ESF LUPS "Strategic Skills Pipeline" Priority 5. Interventions would seek to equip individuals with the flexible transferable competencies required to access and hold on to jobs now as well as acquire the skills needed for the job opportunities of the future.
- The virement of the remaining unallocated funds from ESF Priorities 1-3 to Priority 5
- Some spatial targeting within Priority 5 on the current basis (as for ESF Priority 1), but with a menu of activities also available across the whole of the LUPS area.
- A single call for co-ordinated area-specific or national bids for ESF Priority 5 (from CPPs, STUC, SFC, SDS). Bids would be subject to a negotiated process to produce the required demand-side connections and partner delivery, including with the college and Third sectors.
- The eligibility criteria and the delivery partnership in any Priority 5 bid to be the subject of discussions with partners.
- Further brokering activity by Scottish Government officials and the CPPs to ensure that the best practice of ESF activity by the Third sector can be taken forward, where funds permit.
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- A focused call for applications under ERDF Priority 1 , based on a specification (to be published) addressing the low carbon agenda.
- An invitation for bids under ERDF Priority 2 for additional business support activity. The specification for the call will be agreed with SLAED and COSLA.
- Further competitive bidding rounds under ERDF Priority 3 (emphasising the requirement for projects that link urban regeneration and low carbon) and ERDF Priority 4 (rural development).
- Refreshments of the relevant Advisory Group membership to ensure that the appropriate technical expertise is represented and, where appropriate of the AGs’ scoring criteria.
These recommendations remain subject to Ministerial approval. If implemented, it should be noted that there will be no calls this year for competitive bids for ESF Priorities 1-3.
European Structural Funds Division, Scottish Government
ESEP Ltd
24 May 2010
Ministerial Announcement of ESF Awards
10 May 2010
Mike Russell, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning today announced European funding for 73 projects in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland.
The European Social Fund projects, totalling over £30 million, are aimed at helping people to train and develop their skills either to find employment or progress in employment.
Details of Awards
Details of the projects funded in the Third Round can be downloaded below:
ESF Priority 1: Progressing into Employment
ESF Priority 2: Progressing Through Employment
Third Round Appeals Process
30 April 2010
Following the announcement of the recent European Structural Funds awards under the Third Application Round project sponsors are advised of the arrangements for appeals for applications that were unsuccessful.
If applicants feel that their application has been treated unfairly or improperly they can write to the Chair of the Programme Monitoring Committee (details below) asking for a review of the fairness of the process.
Chair of Programme Monitoring Committee: Dr John Rigg
Head of European Structural Funds Division
Scottish Government
5 Atlantic Quay
150 Broomielaw
GLASGOW
G2 8LU
A request for this process review must be sent within one month of the decision notified to you by the IAB.
Ministerial Announcement of ERDF Awards
20 April 2010
Scottish Government has announced European funding awards of over £30 million to projects that will be directed towards Scotland's economic recovery through programmes to safeguard and create jobs.
Under the Third Round of funding a total of 35 projects across Lowlands and Uplands Scotland will benefit from the new allocations under the European Regional Development Fund Programme.
Details of Awards
Download a list of the Third Round Awards under the European Regional Development Fund
ERDF Priority 1: Research
& Innovation
ERDF Priority 2:
Enterprise Growth
ERDF Priority 3: Urban
Regeneration
ERDF Priority 4: Rural
Development
Cash for jobs
European funding of more than £4.7 million is being invested in initiatives to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the creation of 580 new jobs across Scotland. On a visit to life sciences company Biopta last week, First Minister Alex Salmond said that the new allocations from the European Regional Development Fund will strengthen Scotland's economic recovery by investing in programmes that offer advice and assistance to new and small businesses across Scotland.
Read the full press release on the Scottish Government website
Investment in research and innovation
European funding of more than £9.3 million is being invested in new projects that will harness the economic potential of Scotland's world-leading research base and support the creation of 740 jobs, First Minister Alex Salmond announced on Monday. On a visit to the University of Aberdeen, Mr Salmond said that new allocations of the European Regional Development Fund will be invested in projects that strengthen links between Scotland's research base and business community by commercialising knowledge.
Read the full press release on the Scottish Government website
Cash for job creation
Around £17.4 million pounds is to be invested in urban regeneration and rural development projects including new business parks, training centres and the renewable energy industry, helping to create around 950 new Scottish jobs. Finance Secretary John Swinney said cash from the European Regional Development Fund, allocated by the Scottish Government, would help sustain employment around Scotland, boost economic recovery prospects and assist with the development of a low carbon economy.
Read the full press release on the Scottish Government website
Changes to the Format of the Quarterly Progress Report
24 March 2010
When you open a Quarterly Progress Report after 29th March 2010, after the new upgrade to Eurosys has been installed, you will see that there has been a change in the appearance and the data requested on the page for recording “Participant Characteristics”.
The Scottish Government has introduced this change so that it shows both the number of new participants recorded in the latest quarter and the cumulative total. When you open the page it will show already on each line the total to the end of the previous quarter. You will have to enter (in the column headed “In This Progress report”) the number of new participants in the latest quarter; and the new total figure will be calculated automatically in the final column. This new cumulative figure will reappear as the starting figure in the next report.
The numbers in first line of the "Participant Characteristics" page should be the same as the figure on the first line of the page for "Outputs Results and Impacts.
The ‘Notes for Applicants’ are being amended accordingly and will be reissued on the ESEP website.
Having the quarterly and cumulative figures together will make it easier to monitor and analyse the progress of projects. This, with other improvements, will allow the MA to monitor more effectively the performance data for the Priority as a whole, by being able to see how performance in the most recent quarter has contributed to progress towards the targets. The new upgrade will enable identification of, for example, the characteristics of all starts in each quarter within each priority.
The format of all the reports already on the system will be changed when the upgrade is introduced. This has two important consequences. One, it means that it would be best if you are not in the middle of filling out a report at the time of the changeover.
Second, it means that in the days after the migration to the new format the Scottish Government will be checking the numbers in each quarterly progress report to ensure that they are correct and consistent. This will be done centrally and there should be no extra work for project sponsors or the IABs. If, however, you do see numbers that are incorrect please get in touch with your Development Officer at ESEP who will inform the SG.
New Projects Announced
24 March 2010
East of Scotland Investment Fund
On 19 March 2010, First Minister Alex Salmond announced the creation of a £5 million East of Scotland Investment Fund which will offer loans of up to £50,000 to growth businesses in the East of Scotland. The Fund is supported by £2 million of ERDF funding and £3 million of funding from the 12 local authorities that will deliver the scheme: Fife, Aberdeen, Angus, Edinburgh, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Midlothian, Moray, Perth & Kinross, Stirling and West Lothian. The Fund has the potential to generate increased turnover of £34.6 million in SMEs and could create approximately 1,300 new jobs.
For further information please contact Pamela Stevenson at Fife Council, tel: 08451 555555 ext 473821 or by email Pamela.Stevenson@fife.gov.uk.
Scottish Funding Council – The College Sector: Investing in Recovery
This £15.3 million project will create an extra 4,100 new college places in the most deprived areas of Scotland. £6.9 million of ESF funding is being match-funded by £8.4 million from the Scottish Funding Council to support colleges in the most socially deprived areas where demand for places has increased during the economic downturn. First Minister, Alex Salmond said “These new places will provide more than 4,000 people with a real opportunity to train, learn and develop their skills so they are work ready and well equipped to find long-term employment despite the current economic climate.
Further announcements on awards made under the third round of the Programmes will be made shortly and will be posted on this website.
The European Commission’s Simplification Agenda – Scottish Government Position
24 March 2010
The European Commission’s ‘simplification’ initiative is designed to ease perceived bottlenecks in programme infrastructure which were impeding effective implementation. The attached paper sets out the range of the Commission’s actions and proposals and sets out the Scottish Government’s position on how these will be taken forward in the implementation of the 2007-2013 Structural Funds Programmes in Scotland.
EUR-Lex Website
3 March 2010
The European Commission’s EUR-Lex website contains information on EU treaties, and legislation, including the Structural Funds Regulations, European Parliamentary questions, and on-line access to the Official Journal.
Scotland’s National Renewables Infrastructure Plan
3 March 2010
Scotland’s National Renewables Infrastructure Plan was published recently and is available for download . The Plan details how Scotland can capitalise on its offshore wind and tidal resources to develop a sustainable and long term industry for the future.
ERDF Operational Programme Changes
4 February 2010
On 22 January 2010 the European Commission (decision C(2010)417 attached) agreed amendments to the LUPS ERDF Operational Programme. Changes were made to eligible areas and activity for ERDF Priorities 1, 3 and 4, and amendments were made to the Programme’s financial tables. Further information can be found here .
Ministerial Announcement of 2010 CPP Allocations
11 January 2010
A European cash injection of more than £34 million will be invested in programmes to develop Scotland's workforce and safeguard and create jobs.
Speaking at a National Job Summit in Glasgow, First Minister Alex Salmond outlined the new allocations from the European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) that will help 28,000 people to gain or sustain employment opportunities through skills development and support the creation of 193 jobs.
Funding of £16 million will be invested in Community Planning Partnership (CPP) initiatives to support and prepare people for work in Glasgow, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Fife, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian. This will help more than 23,000 people to find work.
Funding of £18 million will go towards 43 projects in the Highlands and Islands area which will provide more than 5,000 individuals with help and support to enter employment.
The full press release can be accessed from the Scottish Government website
Download details of the latest Community Planning Partnership Awards for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes.
Data Protection
5 November 2009
A Note on Information Provided with Transaction Lists and Financial Annexes has now been made available for download
Latest Developments on JESSICA
3 November 2009
The feasibility study for a JESSICA Fund for Scotland, prepared by Ernst & Young has now been made available for download
