Guidance

European Structural and Investment Funds programme guidance

Programme guidance documents for the 2014 to 2020 European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund.

From:

Department for Business and Trade, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities , Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2018 to 2021)

Published:

16 July 2015

Last updated:

15 December 2020

Show all updates

15 December 2020
The ERDF and ESF Selection Criteria was updated to version 2 on 15 December 2020. The document has been amended to provide details on the requirement for projects to present clear evidence that it contributes to the needs / opportunities identified in the Call for Proposals or Application Invitation to which it is responding and the achievement of the specific objectives, outputs and results of the relevant priority axes set out in the Operational Programme.
19 September 2019
ERDF and ESF documents moved to own programme guidance related pages
1 August 2019
ESIF Branding and Publicity Requirements have been updated to version 8 to include an additional requirement for ERDF projects only regarding the acknowledgement of domestic funding. This relates to projects that have received ERDF funding with a Grant Funding Agreement drafted on or after 1 August 2019 (Version 13 for Capital GFA and version 11 for Revenue GFA and subsequent version), including ERDF projects with an extension for 1 year or more only (Version 2 of Funding Agreement Variation and subsequent versions).
26 March 2019
The ESF Scoring Framework has been updated to explain how it applies to the Single-Stage Full Application process.
7 September 2018
ERDF Priority Axis 4 Guidance has been updated to version 5.
9 August 2018
The ESF Scoring Framework has been updated, additional narrative has been added to clarify that the use of the numerical scores does not apply for some types of ESF Project applications
2 August 2018
Revised version of the ESF cross cutting themes Guidance, updated to version 3. This version corrects references to sustainable development and equality.
24 July 2018
The ESIF Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Mainstreaming Plan has been added.
17 May 2018
The Cross-Cutting Themes Guidance for European Social Fund (Sustainable Development and Equality) has been updated.
29 September 2017
ERDF General Example Timesheet updated with version 2 to amend formatting issues.
13 September 2017
ERDF Priority Axis 4 guidance has been updated.
31 July 2017
Branding and publicity guidance has been amended to include information on YEI posters and community-led local development project publicity.
3 May 2017
The ESF Scoring Framework has been updated to version 5. The main changes are a new scoring criteria and a number of layout changes.
10 April 2017
ESF Operating Policy has been updated with a minor update to ensure it is clear this document is applicable to both Outline and Full Applications.
14 February 2017
Published a revised version of the ESF underperformance methodology (version 4).
17 January 2017
Published a revised version of the European Social Fund scoring framework (version 4, dated 17/01/2017). It has been updated to make it clear that it relates to Funding Calls only. Also revised version of the ESF underperformance policy (version 4, dated 17 January 2017) This now includes a link to appendix 2 (underperformance methodology).
16 January 2017
Published The European Social Fund underperformance methodology and a revised version of the European Social Fund programme 2014 to 2020 guidance on state aid. This has been updated to correct a broken link - still version 1 (14 November 2016).
11 January 2017
Version 5 of the ERDF Eligibility Guidance updated on 11 January 2017
16 December 2016
ERDF Counter Fraud Policy updated to version 2 on 16 December 2016.
15 December 2016
Published revised ESF 2014-2020 programme guidance (version 2, December 2016).
8 December 2016
The ESIF National Procurement Requirements has been published and Procurement Aide Memoire for Applicants and Grant Recipents has been updated.
16 November 2016
The ERDF and ESF Performance Management Strategy Guidance has been added.
14 November 2016
ESF 2014-2020 - Guidance on State Aid has been added.
1 November 2016
ESIF Branding and Publicity Requirements has been updated to version 6.
27 October 2016
Added 'Responsibilities of ESF beneficiaries in the prevention and detection of fraud in ESF projects' (version 1).
27 October 2016
The following documents have been added or updated on this page: ERDF Counter Fraud Policy (v1) ERDF Eligibility Guidance (v4) ERDF Priority 4 Guidance (v3) One the Spot Verification Visit Guidance for ERDF Financial Instruments (v1)
3 October 2016
ESIF Branding and Publicity Requirements updated to version 5. ESF Underperformance Policy updated to version 3.
19 September 2016
ESIF Branding and Publicity Requirements document has been updated.
14 September 2016
Added guidance for Member States on the selection of bodies implementing financial instruments.
25 August 2016
Published a revised European Social Fund Scoring Framework (version 3).
20 July 2016
Revised version of the ESF underperformance policy (version 2) published.
24 May 2016
ESF Data Evidence requirements - eligibility and results guidance v2 added.
27 April 2016
New ESF data evidence requirements - eligibility and results guidance added.
14 April 2016
Guidance on document retention including electronic data exchange, for the 2014-2020 ESF projects has been published.
5 April 2016
New European Social Fund Scoring Framework added for applications made against calls published from 24 March 2016 onwards. In addition have republished version 1 of the European Social Fund scoring framework with a revised document title of 'ESF scoring framework- relevant to calls published prior to 24 March 2016'.
4 April 2016
ESF programme guidance added.
30 March 2016
Updated procurement guidance to reflect the new procurement thresholds that came into force from 1st January 2016. Some clarity has also been provided in Chapter 6 to set out when the Treaty Principles and National Rules apply
23 March 2016
European Social Fund national eligibility rules updated to provide clarification on indirect costs.
17 March 2016
Supplementary guidance for Community Led Local Development moved to Community Led Local Development page. ESF Eligibility Rules updated.
10 March 2016
Funding agreement, community led local development and output indicator documents moved to separate pages
7 March 2016
Added information on Community Led Local Development: Use of ‘Lump Sum’ Simplified Costs Methodology for Phase 1 European Social Fund project activity.
10 February 2016
Added output and result indicator definitions guidance for ESF.
3 February 2016
Revised Funding Agreement for the European Social Fund
10 December 2015
ESF Eligibility Rules have been revised and published. The Operating Policy for ESF Applications and the Example ESF Funding Agreement has also been added.
24 September 2015
Supplementary Guidance for Community Led Local Development and the Guidance for development of Community Led Local Development Strategies for the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund has been published.
23 September 2015
Output Indicator Definitions Guidance document for the 2014 to 2020 European Regional Development Fund in England added
16 July 2015
First published.