ESF in England: 2007 to 2013: objectives and funding allocations
Published 23 October 2006
© Crown copyright 2006
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esf-in-england-2007-to-2013-objectives-and-funding-allocations/esf-in-england-2007-to-2013-objectives-and-funding-allocations
This publication is withdrawn
The European Social Fund (ESF) programme for 2007 to 2013 in England and Gibraltar has closed. For funding from 2014 to 2020, apply for European Structural and Investment Funds.
The European Social Fund (ESF) was set up to:
- improve employment opportunities and help raise standards of living
- help people to get better skills and better job prospects
- help equip the workforce with the skills needed by business in a competitive global economy
The 2007 to 2013 ESF programme in England has 2 main objectives:
- convergence
- regional competitiveness and employment
Convergence
The convergence objective aims to develop areas where the economy is lagging behind the rest of the European Union. In England, only Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly benefits from ESF funding under the convergence objective.
Regional competitiveness and employment
The regional competitiveness and employment objective covers all areas outside the convergence objective. It therefore covers the whole of England except Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Within this objective, Merseyside and South Yorkshire benefit from transitional funding as former objective 1 (improving education and training) regions in 2000 to 2006.
ESF funding allocations
| Region or area | £ million |
|---|---|
| Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly | £164 |
| Merseyside | £162 |
| South Yorkshire | £143 |
| East of England | £189 |
| East Midlands | £203 |
| Gibraltar | £2.8 |
| London | £403 |
| North East | £196 |
| North West (excluding Merseyside) | £276 |
| South East | £188 |
| South West (excluding Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) | £119 |
| West Midlands | £305 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber (excluding South Yorkshire) | £177 |
Read more about ESF in England in our operational programme report.