Welcome

Marches LEP - Wider Group Event EU Structural and Investment Fund

Growth ProgrammeSocial Inclusion

Wednesday 17th September 2014Craven Arms Community Centre

Introduction

•Welcome and Overview•Housekeeping•Background

Today’s Agenda

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership

(LEP)

An Overview•LEP’s are the vehicles being used by Government to drive economic growth.•39 LEP’s across the country. The Marches is one of the largest by Geographical area.•Partnership between Local Authorities and businesses to determine local economic priorities and to lead economic growth.•Government (Local Growth Funds) and European Funding (attracts additional private financing).•LEP area covers Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.•Vision – to create 70,000 new homes and 40,000 new jobs over the next 20 years.

LEP BOARDGraham Wynn (OBE) – Chair [Chairman of TTC Group]Cllr. Keith Barrow - Leader of Shropshire County CouncilCllr. Kuldip Sahota – Leader of TWCBill Jackson – Chairman of the LEP Enterprise Zone, Skylon ParkCllr. Tony Johnson – Leader of Herefordshire CCPaul Hinkins – Chief Executive, Business SafeguardingTBC – Chair of Herefordshire Business BoardMandy Thorn – Chair of Shropshire Business BoardProf. Ian Oakes – Pro Vice Chancellor, Research & Enterprise, University of WolverhamptonDavid Llewellyn – Vice Chancellor, Harper Adams UniversityPeter Roach – Chief Executive, BVT

LEP TEAMSmall team of Officers, drawing on support from the three LA’s in terms of staff time.

EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL AND INVESTMENT FUNDS (ESIF) STRATEGY 2014-2020

Five Key Strategic Priorities1.Enhancing competitiveness, research and innovation, and enabling technology.2.Supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy.3.Supporting the environment.4.Employment and skills.5.Social inclusion.

Board Champion for each.

Social inclusion – Peter Roach.

Main Duties of the Board Champion

1.Ensure appropriate consultation with stakeholders.

2.Represent the strategic priority at meetings of the LEP Board.

3.Focus on delivery of key outcomes.

4.Ensure good links with other strategic priorities to maximise outcomes (cross cutting).

Social Inclusion

1.Provide the means by which under-represented groups become work ready and able to access learning, training and job opportunities.2.Engaging and supporting under-represented groups to enable them to overcome barriers to employment.3.Develop capacity at a local level which supports and empowers under-represented groups.4.Target geographical areas with high levels of unemployment, low education attainment levels and low income, through Community Led Local Development (CLLD) approach.

LEP “Infrastructure”

There are a number of Boards and Working Groups which are engaged in the work of turning the ESIF Strategy into a series of bids and then delivery of results; amongst these is:

The Social Inclusion Mini Group.

These periodic Stakeholder Events are an important part of the work of that Mini Group and the input from the Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprises is crucial if we are going to make a real difference in The Marches, responding to the needs of hard-to-reach groups.

Activity 1 – Engaging with Socially Excluded Groups

Using your knowledge, expertise and experience, share with us how you engage with and maintain engagement with socially excluded groups.

Each table as a priority group from the ESIF Strategy – you have 10 minutes per table.

Use the post it notes, pens and paper to share your thoughts. Discuss with other delegates. You will have picked three tables when you signed in).

When completing this activity, please consider the following:

•Streamlined processes•Don’t get caught up with the issues/barriers these groups may face – focus on the

groups•Identify the gaps

Activity 1Feedback

Coffee Break

Activity 2 – Introduction Claire Keetch: Issues to consider when thinking about working

together, signposting or making referrals

Tereza Hayek: Shropshire Partnership for Advice and Advocacy

Lyn Brayne: Telford Crisis Network

George Kinnell: “Stepping Stones” – NCVO critique of the Work Programme

Activity 2 – Building Bridges

What 3 things can we do to work better together?

Common Barriers to EmploymentPeople increasingly present with needs that can be complex and multi-

faceted. Who, in your area, could help people presenting with the following

issues? Think about your own organisation and any others you know about,

whether present today or not. How much do you know about the work of other agencies?

Activity 2Feedback

ESIF Update

Fiona Fortune(Marches LEP Lead Officer for Social Inclusion)

ESIF – progress with sign off

•ESIF Strategy submitted to government January 2014•Specific feedback from Growth Programme Board March 2014•Marches LEP responded May 2014•Negotiations between EU Commission and UK government on Partnership Agreement and ESF and ERDF Operational Plan•Changes have been made to the national priorities•DCLG will now manage both ESF and ERDF•LEPs are reviewing ESIF strategies in light of these changes•EU and UK government need to agree Partnership Agreement, ERDF and ESF Operational Plan before ESIF sign off

Implications for Social Inclusion following EU and UK government discussions

•No direct impact from national priorities changing•Digital inclusion not eligible through ERDF - social inclusion to consider•Social Inclusion focussed on ESF, except CLLD which has ERDF element•Clarity is being sought on type of intervention eligible

What now

•ESIF Social Inclusion Activity is being checked against UK Partnership Agreement proposals•Information from today will feed in•Update ESIF to reflect any changes

Community Led Local Development (CLLD)

•March 2014 - government requested more detail•May 2014 - justification for Marches approach provided•CLLD guidance being developed for UK following discussion with EU and local partners•Benefit of CLLD approach is that targeted areas can benefit from ERDF and ESF

However

•We do not yet know if a CLLD approach for the Marches will be agreed

CLLD Milestone Dates

•First quarter 2015 – Call launched by Managing Authority (MA)•First/second quarter 2015 – Applicants respond with Outline Applications•Second quarter 2015 – MA invites development of CLLD Strategy and Local Action Group with Lead Partner/Accountable Body•End 2015/first quarter 2016 – CLLD strategy submitted and appraised•First/second quarter 2016 – MA approves CLLD strategy and Funding Agreement•Third quarter 2016 – Implementation starts

Milestones for the Marches LEP - by end September

•ESIF spend/outputs to be forecast at 2 points in time– 2018– 2023 (N+3)

•Summary of first tranche of calls– Through the Opt-in provision and by DCLG on Marches behalf– Investment priority and type of call– Indicative budget, outputs– Tight timescales to get back with response, challenging – Your input as stakeholders is now requested

Summary of first tranche of calls

Our current proposal – your views on the principles

•Big Lottery Opt-in – first 2 years ESIF Social Inclusion funding less 20%•Marches Open Calls – 20% not allocated to Big Lottery

– Small grants scheme so individuals entering work can access work clothing/shoes, essential job related equipment, entry certificates etc

– New approaches to address barriers to employment, such as transport solutions, digital exclusion, carer responsibilities etc

Milestones for the Marches LEP – by October

•Local Sub Committee to be established for the Marches– ESIF Growth Programme Board will operate for ERDF and ESF

nationally, supported by a number of sub-committees– 39 Local Sub Committees to be set up (one per LEP area)– Each Sub Committee will include full range of stakeholders, including

the LEP– VCSE will be included as stakeholder

Big Lottery opt-in

•Only for ESF and not for any delegated grants•Subject to clarity of opt-in and agreement between Big Lottery and Marches LEP• Marches LEP has agreed in principle to opt-in, initially for first two years•Potential to hold back 20% for local calls and small grants – are we confident of local match funding?•Will not match fund CLLD

BIG Lottery UpdateVicky Millward

Building Better Opportunities

The Opportunity

• To support the ESF theme ‘Promoting Social Inclusion and Combating Poverty’.

• Development funding– Awareness raising– Promoting opportunities– Bringing stakeholders together– Enabling new partnerships– Point of contact– Work with Big Lottery

The Opportunity

• One grant per LEP area• LEP sign off required• 35 LEPs opted in• Average allocation is £17,714• £20,000 allocated for the Marches area

The Opportunity

• The deadline for applications was: Thursday 4 September 2014

• The Social Inclusion Mini Group submitted an application (approved by LEP).

• Shropshire Providers Consortium acted as lead partner.

• Outcome will be known within 6 weeks (by close of play 16th October).

Application Priorities

• Ensure VCSE aware of (and able to manage).– Eligibility– Requirements– Risks– Contract compliance– Monitoring– Etc.

Application Priorities cont..

• Development of protocols e.g. manage conflicts of interest.

• Payment of expenses for planning activity• Developing necessary tools and resources• Robust communication• Continuing engagement activity• Support VCSE voice and work with LEP

Next Steps

Next Steps

• Digest recently published learning documents from Big Lottery– Employability– Financial Inclusion– Multiple and Complex Needs– Social Investment– VCSE support

Next Steps

• Continue to deliver Social Inclusion action plan.

• Further define priority outcomes.• Provide skills development - managing EU

funds.• Work with Big Lottery on the design of

funding/contract opportunities.• Promote opportunities.

Thank you for attending