Competitiveness
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South West Competitiveness and Employment ERDF Programme
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Convergence ERDF Programme
From 01 July 2011, European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF) programmes in the South West will be directly managed by
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). The
majority of the existing RDA ERDF staff are transferring to DCLG,
but contact details have changed so please see the attached list
for telephone numbers and email addresses.
Staff will continue to be based in Exeter, Bristol, Plymouth and
Truro, but are moving to new offices. The addresses are ERDF
Secretariat, DCLG at:
2 Rivergate
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6EH
Longbrook House
New North Rd
Exeter EX4 4UD
Mast House
Shepherds Wharf
24 Sutton Rd
Plymouth PL4 0HJ
Lysnoweth House
Infirmary Hill
Truro TR1 2JD
From 01 July, information relating to the Cornwall and Isles of
Scilly ERDF Programme and South West Competitiveness and Employment
Programme will be available on the
European pages of the DCLG website.
What will Competitiveness do?
The Competitiveness and Employment European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF) programme aims to increase the prosperity of the South
West region (excluding Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) by
supporting enterprises and individuals in developing ideas and
plans which drive up productivity and competitiveness.
There are four objectives underlying this aim:
- Increase the productivity of the region’s businesses, by
promoting and supporting innovation, research and development and
the application of knowledge
- Reduce intra-regional disparities by stimulating enterprise and
speeding up business growth in those parts of the region lagging
behind
- To increase employment and enterprise in the region’s most
disadvantaged communities
- Protect and enhance the region’s environmental assets and work
towards developing a low carbon economy.
How much money is available?
The table below shows the amount of euros allocated to the
programme. The sterling value of the programme fluctuates
with changes to the exchange rate and this has to be carefully
managed to ensure commitments to investments do not exceed the
value of the programme should there be an adverse change to the
exchange rate. Similarly, partners want to ensure that all
available money is allocated to the region, so plans are kept under
review should there be an increase in the sterling value.
Since the programme was launched the sterling value of the
programme has varied, but the overall trend has seen an
increase.
|
Summary financial table (€m) 2007-2013 |
ERDF € |
National Match Funding € |
Total € |
| Innovation and Knowledge |
45 000 000 |
45 000 000 |
90 000 000 |
| Enterprise and Growth |
45 000 000 |
45 000 000 |
90 000 000 |
| Urban Enterprise |
30 000 000 |
30 000 000 |
60 000 000 |
| Technical Assistance |
4 658
086 |
4 658 086 |
9 316 172 |
| |
|
|
|
| Total Competitiveness and Employment |
124 658 086 |
124 658 086 |
249 316 172 |
The table shows the budgets for four priorities for programme
expenditure:
- 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 developing the most profitable and productive
businesses across a range of sectors with particular emphasis on
environmental technology
- to drive up the number of businesses in some of the region's
most deprived neighbourhoods through Urban
Enterprise
- technical assistance is used to fund
activities that enhance delivery of the Programme inclusing
partnership working, developmental work, publicity, monitoring and
evaluation.
How are investment decisions
made?
As part of the transition arrangements for
Programme management it is proposed to restructure Programme
monitoring committees as Local Management Committees, to ensure
local people can influence the shape of the Programme. The new
Local Management Committee (LMC) will also review how its
sub-groups work.
ERDF Programmes are partnership-led. Representatives of
the public, private and voluntary sector agree the Operational
Programme, which sets the scope for programme investment. It
is effectively a contract with the European Commission setting out
how the funding will be invested. A Programme Monitoring
Committee (PMC) with representatives across the sectors has
responsibility for agreeing programme priorities, the criteria for
selecting projects for funding, monitoring programme performance
and assessing how the beneficiaries are faring.
The South West RDA’s European Secretariat looks at individual
proposals using criteria agreed by the PMC and makes
recommendations to a sub-group of the committee, called the
Endorsement Advisory Group (EAG). This enables partners to
take an informed view on the potential benefits of a proposal and
whether it meets the criteria for funding. A final decision
is based on the appraisal and EAG recommendation; an approved
investment will receive an offer letter (contract) from the South
West RDA as managing agent.
Where can I find out more about Competitiveness
investments?
The latest edition of the
Competitiveness newsletter provides more information.