Introduction to ERDF
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is making a real difference to people and businesses in the East Midlands. With €268.5million to invest between 2007 and 2013, the Fund is enhancing the competitiveness of the region’s economy by supporting growth in SME innovation, enterprise and employment.
ERDF in the East Midlands is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). For further information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf.
The DCLG is the managing authority for the ERDF programme in East Midlands, which runs from 2007 to 2013. This is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development.
This investment is part of the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007-13, which has already invested over £145million in projects in the East Midlands. The programme has been allocated €268.5million (around £212million at current exchange rates) to invest by 31 December 2013 and is focused on the East Midlands Operational Programme Document, which outlines the investment priorities for the region. It focuses on two main priorities:
- Priority 1 - Increasing productivity through innovation and sustainable business practice: This priority focuses on increasing commercialisation of innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the region's priority sectors: transport equipment, construction, food and drink, health and bioscience, and in businesses with high growth potential to create higher value added products and services. It will include support for small and medium-sized enterprise engagement in research and development for emerging technologies and for innovation to improve resource efficiency.
- Priority 2 - Increasing sustainable economic and enterprise activity in disadvantaged communities: This priority focuses on stimulating economic and enterprise activity in the most disadvantaged areas whilst exploiting the potential linkages to adjacent areas of economic growth, through a range of actions but with a strong focus on enterprise and start-up activity. It will also aim to create new economic opportunities by building local capacity, resources and support; reviving local infrastructure and environments and stimulating and supporting enterprise.
The full East Midlands Operation Programme Document setting out the strategy of can be downloaded at www.communities.gov.uk/regeneration/regenerationfunding/europeanregionaldevelopment/eastmidlands.
About ERDF nationally
The ERDF Programme aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by supporting regional economic development. The ERDF objectives for England are:
- Promoting innovation and knowledge transfer
- Stimulating enterprise and supporting successful business
- Ensuring sustainable development, production and consumption
- Building sustainable communities
- Improving accessibility and connectivity (for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly only – as part of their Convergence Programme).
A Local Management Committee consisting of regional stakeholders including local authorities, local enterprise partnerships, higher education institutions, business organisations, and the private and voluntary sectors monitor and oversee programme implementation in each region. For more information on ERDF funding generally visit http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/how/finance/edf_en.htm
About ERDF in the East Midlands
The East Midlands is eligible for €268.5million (approximately £212million at current exchange rates) between 2007 and 2013, which when combined with match funding, provides a programme value of approximately £424million – a significant investment in the economic development of the region.
The East Midlands qualifies as a competitiveness and employment region under the EU’s Cohesion Policy, which aims to meet the EU Lisbon objective to become ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social inclusion.’
The DCLG is responsible for the programme management and delivery of the region’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme. The responsibility for ERDF programme management was transferred from the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) to EMDA following a decision by the UK Government to seek greater alignment between ERDF and regional strategies and funding streams, and with the abolition of the Regional Development Agencies to DCLG in July 2011. The 2007-13 ERDF Programme is set firmly within the framework of the Regional Economic Strategy.
A Local Management Committee, chaired by Mark Carroll, the DCLG Director, Decentralisation and the Big Society will guide the strategic direction of the programme, working closely with the regional stakeholders.
For further information about ERDF, the region’s strategy for delivering the funds, how to apply for funding and how the programme is managed, visit www.communities.gov.uk/regeneration/regenerationfunding/europeanregionaldevelopment/eastmidlands.