Happy New Year from D2N2 LEP and One East Midlands and welcome to the first Active Engagement bulletin for 2017 on news, activities and opportunities relating to the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the VCS and partners. This bulletin is distributed at the start of every month; providing a round-up of recent news and highlighting what’s coming up in the future.
For information on the role of LEPs and their relevance to your work please visit the One East Midlands policy page. Information specific to D2N2 can be found here at One East Midlands or on the D2N2 website at www.d2n2lep.org
If you would like to contact the Active Engagement Officer at D2N2 or have items of relevance to this bulletin that you would like including you can contact us at Rachel.quinn@d2n2lep.org or tel: 07551 124225.
D2N2 Social Inclusion and Equalities Advisory Group (SIAEG)
The SIEAG took place on 13th December in Long Eaton. The meeting focussed on the forthcoming opportunity to refresh the D2N2 Social Inclusion Framework, changes to Skills Funding Agency contracting arrangements affecting independent providers and a forthcoming presentation on the role of the third sector in the D2N2 economy to the LEP Board. Draft minutes can be found here: https://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/node/5623
The next SIEAG meeting will be held late Feb / early March. Date tbc.
D2N2 LEP Board and ESIF Sub Committee
The D2N2 Board and ESIF Sub-Committee are due to meet again on the 20th January in Nottingham. The meeting will include a presentation on the role of the VCSE sector within the D2N2 economy by VCSE Board representative Sylvia Green.
Any comments in advance of the meeting can be sent to Rachel Quinn (contacts at the top of this bulletin).
Launch of ESF Open Calls in D2N2
D2N2 have made more than £7m of ESF funding available for projects focussing on:
Higher Skills (graduate retention);
Enterprise, Innovation and Pathways (supporting access to careers opportunities and careers support for disadvantaged groups) and;
Developing Sector Growth (support for SMEs in identified growth sectors).
Expressions of interest for all programmes are open until 15th January 2017. If you missed the technical assistance launch events, all information is available on the D2N2 ESIF events page at http://www.d2n2lep.org/EUFunding/ESIF-Events
For technical support and information contact D2N2 Technical Assistance via Rachel Quinn (contacts at the top of the page).
ESF Project Partners – request from Derby City Council
A number of lead applicants for the current open call round of ESF are now seeking delivery partners. A list of potential lead applicants can be found on our website via the following link:
http://www.d2n2lep.org/write/Documents/ESIF/ESF_Attendees_Final_for_pdf.pdf
Derby City Council are specifically seeking two to three third sector organisations to partner in their bid for provision of wraparound support to vulnerable groups.
The programme will involve the delivery of bespoke training (designed with employers) to meet a sector skills need. The intention of the programme is to move the individual into employment. The programme will include elements of pre-employment training, basic skills training, confidence building and skills based (employer-led) training.
In terms of partners, we are looking for partners who are able to ‘match’ ESF funding available for delivery. In reality you would likely be working with this client group in reducing barriers to employment and therefore this can be used as match for the project. There will be an evidencing process for this – but we will recruit a compliance officer to support this. The better option is provision of a cash match. For example if you have a pot of money available to reduce barriers to employment, you could double this by bringing in ESF monies to match this – enabling more outcomes for your client group.
For more information contact Sabina Talib, Derby and Derbyshire ESF Development Officer, Derby City Council, Corporation Street, Derby DE1 2FS Sabina.talib@derby.gov.uk Telephone 01332 643136| Mobile 07584 6000464
Life Chances Fund – launch and information event – 17th February Save the Date
The Life Chances Fund (LCF) is an £80 million top-up fund, whose objective is to help those people in society who face the most significant barriers to leading happy and productive lives. The £80 million has been committed by central government to provide contributions to outcome payments for payment-by-results contracts, which involve socially minded investors - i.e. towards Social Impact Bonds (SIBs). These contracts must be locally commissioned and aim to tackle complex social problems. The fund is particularly focused on outcomes in early years and for young people.
The second call for Expressions of Interest opens in January. A launch event will take place from 9.30 until 12.30 on 17th February 2017 in Nottingham. The event will be delivered by the Head of the Fund and will include:
an overview of the fund and how it works;
eligibility;
how to put together a good EOI.
The event is for providers and commissioners of early years and young people’s services. To reserve a place email office@one-em.org.uk . Further guidance on how to apply and more information regarding social impact bonds and social investment can be found on the Life Chances Fund homepage.
Office Furniture Recycling – register for more information
The East Midlands Chamber and University of Derby are vacating their current premises in Chesterfield. As a result of the move, and the wind up of some university projects a large amount of redundant office furniture is coming available over the next 2 months.
Equipment includes storage, shelving, desks, reception furniture and IT-suite furniture. It is hoped that items can be gifted to VCS organisations with prioritisation of new and smaller organisations.
An inventory of all equipment will be made available by the next bulletin. To register interest in advance please email office@one-em.org.uk with brief details of your groups, the equipment you need and contact name/ number.
All equipment must be collected from Chesterfield – sorry, we are unable to deliver.
£7.2m Investment to Support Digital Growth
The D2N2 Digital Business Growth Programme, set to launch in January 2017 and run for three years, is due to help around 850 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the D2N2 LEP area over that period, to make better use of digital connectivity to expand their businesses.
The programme is available to VCS organisations hoping to make better use of digital technologies to enhance their business opportunities. For more information read our news item at http://www.d2n2lep.org/News/72million-to-help-businesses-dare-to-be-more-digital
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