Guidance

065/21: Amendment to I.P 2.2 Annex – Request for Grant Recipients to provide a forecast quarterly profile.

Updated 29 February 2024

Date issued: 8 May 2021
Review date: 18 May 2022

1. Who should read

All ESF beneficiary organisations, European Social Fund Division and Greater London Authority

This Action Note is to confirm that a revised version of the ESF Annex I.P 2.2 has been published on GOV.UK. Grant Recipients and Applicants are required to note and understand the changes to the ESF Annex IP 2.2 and take the required action detailed within this document.

2. Background

In July 2017 the ESF Managing Authority introduced the ESF Annex I.P 2.2 to robustly test Value for Money (VfM) evidence within Investment Priority (IP) 2.2. The ESF Annex I.P 2.2 completed by applicants allowed the ESF Managing Authority to assess the impact the project would have within the LEP area, particularly around the number of individuals it looked to support. The end beneficiary against IP 2.2 is the entity SME rather than individuals, and the associated IP 2.2 indicators should reflect this. The revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2 will allow the MA to better understand the numbers of individuals supported by the project and the impact the project has on the LEP area which in turn contribute to VfM considerations. The information provided in the revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2 is captured and used purely to inform the VfM template, which as you are aware, is the final assurance test prior to a Funding Agreement being signed off.

In July 2017 the ESF Managing Authority introduced the ESF Annex I.P 2.2 to robustly test value for money (VfM) evidence within Investment Priority (IP) 2.2. The ESF Annex I.P 2.2 completed by applicants allowed the ESF Managing Authority to assess the impact the project would have within the LEP area, particularly around the number of individuals it looked to support. The end beneficiary against IP 2.2 is the entity SME rather than individuals, and the associated IP 2.2 indicators should reflect this. The revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2 will allow the MA to better understand the numbers of individuals supported by the project and the impact the project has on the LEP area which in turn contribute to VfM considerations. The information provided in the revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2 is captured and used purely to inform the VfM template, which as you are aware, is the final assurance test prior to a Funding Agreement being signed off. The ESF Annex I.P 2.2 needs to be completed by all applicants applying for funds under I.P 2.2. The revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2 will ensure that full consideration is given to ‘Value for Money’ and requires anyone applying for funds to include a table detailing a forecast quarterly profile for the number of people supported.

3. Action

New or existing Applicants and Grant Recipients applying for ESF funding under IP 2.2 will need to complete the revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2.

The revised ESF Annex IP2.2 should include information on the total number of participants expected to benefit from the project as a consequence of the ESF project support to SME organisations. This information recorded in the revised ESF Annex IP2.2, should be uploaded into ECLAIMS as a supporting document as part of their online Full Application.

Additionally, existing Applicants and Grant Recipients receiving funding under IP2.2, may be asked to complete the revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2 by the ESF Managing Authority. Performance of the ESF Project(s) include monitoring against the individual participant target (ESF Output Target 01) as well as the relevant SME Output and Result targets. Applicants need to include the Output 01-Total number of Participants alongside the other Outputs and Results associated with IP 2.2.

Applicants will be monitored against the Entity Specific Outputs and Results for I.P 2.2 which include Output 01 Total Participants, underperformance methodology will be used if appropriate. The revised ESF Annex I.P 2.2 should be used from the publication date of this Action Note.

4. Contact

If you have any questions about this Action Note please contact ESF.2014-2020@DWP.GOV.UK