European Social Fund: Employment

Overview

The ESF Programme will contribute to employment policies to make progress towards increasing the overall employment rate and reducing inactivity in Northern Ireland (subject to economic conditions) by extending employment opportunities in particular for those groups at a disadvantage in the labour market. It will also contribute to skills policies to increase productivity, enterprise and competitiveness by raising the skills levels of the workforce through lifelong learning and ensure the right workforce skills for future employment opportunities.

The Programme's objectives will be realised by two inter-related priorities:

• Priority 1: Helping people into sustainable employment; and
• Priority 2: Improving workforce skills.

Priority 1 will increase employment and reduce unemployment and inactivity by improving the employability of those groups experiencing significant employment gaps such as people with disabilities and health conditions, lone parents and other disadvantaged parents, older workers, young people not in education, employment or training, women and people with no or low qualifications, and other disadvantaged groups, including people experiencing multiple disadvantage.

Priority 2 will develop a skilled and adaptable workforce by improving the qualifications and skills of workers without essential (basic) skills and low or no qualifications.

The Programme's cross cutting themes are gender equality and equal opportunities and promoting sustainable development, including the creation of sustainable communities. Innovative and trans-national and inter-regional activities will be promoted under the programme.

Northern Ireland has available an allocation of €166 million of ESF to fund the Programme.

How to Apply

Application and programme details including further information on European Social Fund eligibility, programme management requirements and guidance for applicants can be found on the DEL website.

• The 1st call has closed and 76 projects are approved
• The 2nd call is due in 2010 and will run for the final 3 years of the programme.