The strategic objectives of the Competitiveness Operational Programme are to:

• increase productivity of the region's business base
• reduce intra-regional disparities
• work towards reducing carbon emissions and a low carbon economy.

The Programme has three Priorities, which are:

• to increase the rate of innovation and knowledge in the region's businesses and improve the links between higher and further education and business.
• to focus on the development of high added value business, through enterprise and growth, across a range of sectors with particular emphasis on environmental technology.
• to increase the level of enterprise creation in some of the region's most deprived neighbourhoods through Urban Enterprise.

The Operational Programme's objectives of improving regional competitiveness through developing research, innovation, skills and knowledge whilst addressing the challenges of internationalisation chime strongly with those of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

Equality and Environmental Sustainability 
 
The Competitiveness Operational Programme has equality and environmental sustainability as core themes. This is in order to help deliver positive outcomes for society and the environment by enabling all members of society to fulfil their potential and the economy to develop within environmental limits. Every prospective investment must consider these themes and show how they can positively impact on them. Generic guidance notes for both themes have been produced to help with this process. 
 
Each proposed investment must complete an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) before being approved. A Screening Stage Equality Impact Assessment form and guidance notes have also been produced for use. 
 
Screening Stage Equality Impact Assessment Form (Microsoft Word Document - 113.66kb) 
 
Equality Impact Assessment Guidance Notes (Microsoft Word Document - 205.31kb) 
 
Generic Equality Project Guidance Notes (Microsoft Word Document - 205.82kb)

Latest News

May 2009 
 
Latest information on investments supported by the SW Competitiveness ERDF programme now available: 
 
SW Competitiveness ERDF beneficiary details May 2009 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 5.55kb)

March 2009 
 
11th March 2009 saw the SW Competitiveness and Employment Programme host its annual event at Taunton Rugby Club, with attendees drawn from the public, private and voluntary sectors as well as local and central Government and the European Commission. You can now view the key presentation given at the event, below. 
 
Competitiveness Annual Event Presentation - March 2009 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 1339.04kb) 
 
In addition, the Frameworks for Investment in Priority Axis One - Innovation and Knowledge, and Priority Axis Two - Enterprise and Growth, have been updated since they were first published in December 2008. The purpose of these frameworks is to provide a background to developing specific investment commissioning and pre-commissioning activity in Priority Axes One and Two. Access the new documents below: 
 
SW Competitiveness Priority Axis One Framework March 2009 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 405.55kb) 
SW Competitiveness Priority Axis Two Framework March 2009 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 397.98kb)

July 2008 
 
In July 2008, the SW Competitiveness ERDF Programme Annual Implementation Report (AIR) outlining activity undertaken in 2007 was accepted as admissible by the European Commission. You can read the report below. 
 
SW Competitiveness ERDF Programme Annual Implementation Report 2007 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 155.61kb)

February 2008 
 
Following the launch of the ERDF Competitiveness and Employment Programme amd the Rural Development Programme for England, the presentations given by Phil McVey (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 128.30kb) and Sir Harry Studholme (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 314.16kb), are now available. 
 
Also available are the press release (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 69.55kb) and a question and answer document (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 50.03kb).

December 2007 
 
The ERDF Competitiveness Operational Programme has been approved by the European Commission and is expected to begin early in 2008. The final version of the document, along with all annexes, is available in the publications section: South West Competitiveness Operational Programme - Adopted Documents.

November 2007 
 
The lastest version of the Competitiveness Operational Programme has been submitted to the European Commission, we anticipate approval by the end of the year.

May 2007 
 
The final draft of the Competitiveness Operational Programme was submitted to the European Commission in May. This marked the beginning of a formal negotiation period with the Commission, which is expected to run until the end of the year. 
 
You can view the submitted draft, along with all the annexes and attachments, by visiting the publications section: Competitiveness Operational Programmes documents

Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Meeting minutes

Below you will find links to the approved minutes for the SW Competitiveness Joint ERDF Monitoring Committee and ESF Regional Committee meetings. 
 
Joint Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Meeting Minutes - 11 March 2009 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 208.94kb) 
Joint Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Meeting Minutes - 17 December 2008 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 103.23kb) 
Joint Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Minutes - 22 October 2008 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 219.70kb), at which two framework for investment papers were presented: 
Competitiveness Priority Axis One Framework (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 218.99kb) and Competitiveness Priority Axis Two Framework (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 215.29kb)  
Joint Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Meeting Minutes - 20 August 2008 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 220.11kb) 
Joint Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Meeting Minutes - 18 June 2008 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 73.77kb) 
Joint Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Meeting Minutes - 03 April 2008 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 74.18kb) 
Joint Competitiveness Monitoring Committee Meeting Minutes - 04 February 2008 (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 126.37kb)