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Intelligence West Wilts & Swindon Somerset Dorset Devon Cornwall

ESF - Position and Progress/Alliance Meeting

Duration: 13 October 2008 to 09 December 2008

Research Briefs

Related Links

Resources

Workshops

Discuss

Good Practice

This Learning Theme focussed on the European Social Fund (ESF), which channels a major proportion of European funding support for skills and employment into the UK regions. During 2008, details of the ESF Frameworks for Competitiveness and Employment (for the South West sub regions beyond Cornwall) and Convergence (for Cornwall only) were finalised and implementation began thereafter.

For this Learning Theme we consulted with colleagues at the Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) who took a lead in driving forward plans for ESF in the region. The Theme anticipated a ‘refresh’ of the ESF Frameworks due for 2009 and was part of a process of consultation for future developments with regional stakeholders. A key strand of the Theme included a look at more local initiatives - led by Local Government, Sub Regional Partnerships and Employment and Skills Boards – and exploration of their linkages with ESF ‘on the ground’.

SLIM and the RSP welcomed participation in the Learning Theme and collated a number of contributions; activities and examples of good practice. The Theme culminated in a joint workshop, which coincided with the RSP Alliance meeting at Somerset College of Arts & Technology, Taunton, on 9th December.


SLIM Learning Themes bring practitioners, researchers and policy makers together face to face and on-line to exchange ideas, practice and details of what works, where and why. During Theme SLIM researchers:
  • identify, summarise and contextualise research for participants
  • interview policy makers
  • identify projects demonstrating good practice and write these up as case studies and
  • welcome on-line contributions of experience, resources and practice.
Resources will be highlighted as the Theme developed were made available through our website at www.swslim.org.uk.

The workshop bought together participants to reflect on the findings and discussion and to develop recommendations for our Final Report. This was widely distributed in the region. Background papers summarising our research and findings are available under Research Briefs.

Download the Final Report or Executive Summary.

Download the background paper which introduced the Theme.

Download presentations from the event from the RESP web site.



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