Guidance

England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds

Information about the European Structural and Investment Funds programme for 2014 to 2020 in England.

• From: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 16 July 2015
• Last updated: 20 October 2020 — See all updates

European Structural and Investment Funds response to COVID-19.

Read about the continued UK participation in EU programmes following exit of the EU and details on future funding available moving forward.

ESIF programmes continue to invest in projects after the transition period ended on 31 December 2020. All funding must finish by the end of 2023.

About the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth programme

The European Structural and Investment Funds programme provides funds to help local areas grow. The funds support investment in innovation, businesses, skills and employment and create jobs.

Running from 2014 to 2020, and delivering funding until the end of 2023, there are 3 types of funds involved in the programme:

• European Social Fund (ESF) focuses on improving the employment opportunities, promoting social inclusion and investing in skills by providing help people need to fulfil their potential

• European Regional Development Fund(ERDF) supports research and innovation, small to medium sized enterprises and creation of a low carbon economy. For this fund, a Strategic Environmental Assessment is carried out.

• European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) supports rural businesses to grow and expand, improve knowledge and skills and get started – Read more information and access documents on this fund

View projects that have received funding from the ERDF and ESF.

Applying for European Structural and Investment Growth programme funds

There are a range of requirements and criteria setting out who is eligible to apply for funding. If you are eligible, there are 2 routes to apply for funding.

Route 1: Funding Finder

For all of the ERDF, part of the EAFRD and part of the ESF

Route 2: Co-financing

European Social Fund only. Available through ESF Co-financing Organisations and can cover up to 100% EU funding of eligible project costs.

Find out more about the different stages of a typical European Regional Development Fund or European Social Fund project (PDF, 1.86MB, 31 pages).

Programme guidance, forms, publicity and performance information

Through the pages below you can access a range of documents, guidance and forms required to manage funded projects or for more general information. Following our partners feedback, we have made a change to the way we show these documents and now group them together by funding programme. The same documents are still available for you to access through the links below.

• European Structural and Investment Funds programme - all funding
• European Regional Development Fund only
• European Social Fund only

Managing the European Structural and Investment Growth programme funds

• Growth Programme Board
• Growth Programme Board National sub-committees
• Local Enterprise Partnership area ESIF sub-committees

Programme performance

Take a look at how the ERDF and ESF programmes are performing through the Annual Implementation Reports.

Contact us and stay in touch

• General enquiries
• ESF enquiries
• EAFRD enquiries
• Local information and enquiries
• Twitter
• You Tube

• Sign up to receive monthly update bulletins

• View the MHCLG complaints procedure
• View the DWP complaints procedure.
• Read about how we collect, use and store your personal information

Published 16 July 2015
Last updated 20 October 2020 + show all updates

1. 20 October 2020

   Added link to DWP Complaints Procedure.

2. 26 March 2020

   New page added to detail information regarding the European Structural and Investment Funds and the response the COVID-19.

3. 3 February 2020

   Link added to information about continued UK participation in EU programmes.

4. 17 October 2019

   Link to the ESF Outputs and Results page has bee added.

5. 19 September 2019

   Programme guidance section split into ESIF, ERDF and ESF related documents

6. 28 March 2019

   The email address for ESF Queries has changed from ESF.2014-2020@dwp.gsi.gov.uk to ESF.2014-2020@dwp.gov.uk. Any messages sent to the gsi email address after 28 March 2019 will receive an automated email response, asking you to use the new address.

7. 27 July 2018

   The 2018 determination report which looks at the Strategic Environmental Assessment has been published.

8. 27 June 2018

   Privacy notice added

9. 20 April 2018

   We have added this page to the list of Government Funding Programmes

10. 23 January 2018

    The 2015 and 2016 Annual Implementation Reports have been added

11. 6 November 2017

    New ESF and ERDF Case Study Booklets added to GOV.UK.

12. 24 October 2017

    The determination of the Strategic Environmental Assessment has been added.

13. 11 August 2017

    New sub page added on Evaluation of ERDF with associated documents.

14. 26 June 2017

    Added a link to ESF Action Notes: 2014 to 2020 Programme.

15. 11 January 2017

    New page and documents added on ERDF Financial Instruments

16. 5 September 2016

    Added a link to new information about the evaluation of the European Social Fund 2014 to 2020.

17. 12 May 2016

    Contact Us - email address amended for ESF enquiries.

18. 21 December 2015

    Added a link to the new guide to European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund 2014-2020 programmes in England.

19. 17 September 2015

    The European Social Fund Operational Programme was adopted by the European Commission on 10 September 2015 and now published.

20. 16 July 2015

    First published.