2007-2013 Programmes : ESF Priority 2 - Progressing Through Employment
Priority 5 - Strategic Skills Pipeline
The remainder of unallocated funds from ESF Priorities 1, 2 and 3 have been transferred into a new Priority 5, the main focus of which is to link needs and opportunities at a local level through local strategic skills pipelines. Further information can be found on ESF Priority 5 page of this website.
Please note that at present there are no plans for any further open calls for new funding applications for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland 2007-2013 ERDF and ESF Programmes with the exception of Priority 3 ERDF.
The Programme Monitoring Committee will consider options to maximise the use of remaining funds and any under-spends at a future meeting. When utilised, it is envisaged that funds will be further targeted to add value to Scottish Government policy priorities, and the Managing Authority will liaise with key stakeholder organisations to commission eligible projects.
Priority 2
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 has been 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 was challenge funding, open to all eligible applicants.
Spatial Targeting
There was no spatial targeting under Priority 2 and therefore applications were accepted from all parts of the Lowlands and Uplands Programme area.
