Competitiveness
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. The most up to date sterling values are available
on the Competitiveness website.
|
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 finance the
admin required to manage the programme
How are investment decisions
made?
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.
RDA contacts
Nigel Howells - Head of Competitiveness
Tel: 01392 229601
Peter Holden - Enterprise & Innovation Commissioning
Manager
Tel: 01452 307101/0117 933 0241
Les Roper - Innovation & Enterprise
Competitiveness Manager (maternity cover)
Tel: 01752 234828
Rebecca Symons - Competitiveness Co-ordinator
Tel: 01752 234851