ESF Frameworks
Regional ESF frameworks aim to ensure that ESF addresses local employment and skills needs within the structure of the national ESF programme. They show how ESF spending will be targeted, for example towards particular disadvantaged groups, or in terms of employee training or particular business sectors.
The frameworks are used by ESF Co-financing Organisations to inform their Co-financing Plans. The Co-financing Plans describe the activities, outputs and results that CFOs will procure to contribute to the national programme and regional frameworks.
The frameworks were originally developed by Regional Skills Partnerships in 2007 in consultation with other regional partners. The frameworks were revised during autumn 2009 and 2010 to take account of the changing economic environment and to inform planning for the 2011-2013 phase of the ESF programme.
The revised frameworks are available here:
- Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (3.39MB)
- East of England (976KB)
- East Midlands (728KB)
- London
- North East (956KB)
- North West (2.1MB)
- South East (1.77MB)
- South West (2.36MB)
- West Midlands (1.08MB)
- Yorkshire and the Humber (2.28MB)
- Gibraltar (680KB)
An evaluation of the first round of regional ESF frameworks was published in August 2009.
The original regional ESF frameworks can be viewed via the National Archives.
Financial Allocations
The table below sets out regional ESF financial allocations in sterling based on the current planning rate. The allocations were determined by regional worklessness and skills data, as set out in the Government's response to the consultation on the UK National Strategic Reference Framework which was published by the Department of Trade and Industry on 23 October 2006. The Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective allocations do not include technical assistance funding which will be managed centrally.
| Convergence Objective | ESF funding |
|---|---|
| Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly | £164 million |
| Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective (phasing-in) | |
| Merseyside | £162 million |
| South Yorkshire | £143 million |
| Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective (main) | |
| East of England | £189 million |
| East Midlands | £203 million |
| Gibraltar | £2.8 million |
| London | £403 million |
| North East | £196 million |
| North West (excluding Merseyside) | £276 million |
| South East | £188 million |
| South West (excluding Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) | £119 million |
| West Midlands | £305 million |
| Yorkshire and the Humber (excluding South Yorkshire) | £177 million |
Regional Facts Sheets (last updated 2008) can now be viewed via the National Archive.