25/11/2004

Employment in deprived areas boosted by European funding

Jobs and skills opportunities in the most disadvantaged areas in England have been boosted following the injection of an extra £111 million from the European Social Fund (ESF).

The European Commission awarded the extra money following a review that showed a high level of performance by the ESF in England. The money will be targeted at helping people who remain unemployed or inactive despite record levels of employment in the UK.

Work and Pensions Minister Chris Pond today revealed the funding boost during a visit to The Odyssey Trust, an ESF project in Holloway, London. The trust works with groups such as ex-offenders, drug users, ethnic minorities and the long-term unemployed to break down barriers keeping them from work through expert guidance, support and skills training.

The Minister met the people running the project and several others who are benefiting from the help provided by the trust.

Chris Pond said: "Over a third of people joining ESF employment programmes have no qualifications and many have poor basic skills, so this money is going to the people who need it most."

He added: "ESF funding allows us to improve literacy, numeracy and IT skills amongst those who are at a disadvantage in our world-leading labour market, so their chances of finding a job are vastly improved."

(gmcg/sp)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

28 November 2003
UK employers to benefit from £46m skills boost
UK employers are set to receive a £46 million skills boost, thanks to extra investment in Skills for Business – a UK-wide network of employer-led Sector Skills Councils.
17 February 2015
Plans Announced To Make Young People Work For Benefits
The Prime Minister has announced a proposal for 18 to 21-year-olds claiming benefits to do daily work experience. The proposed reform, known as Community Work Programme, would see young people not in work, education or training, required to complete daily work experience, alongside continuing to look for work in order to qualify for benefits.
07 March 2011
£100m Investment In Skills To Drive Growth
Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable, and Minister for Skills, John Hayes, today launched a £50 million a year fund to help businesses develop the skills they need to drive growth. The Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) will deliver targeted help for employer groups to overcome barriers to growth within their sectors and industries.
10 February 2012
Cities To Benefit From £4.5m Skills Fund
The Government has announced a £4.5 million fund for England’s biggest cities and colleges to work together to boost adult skills across the country. The City Skills Fund will be available to the eight core cities in England, plus London, and their surrounding local enterprise partnership (LEP) areas.
25 January 2011
Manufacturing Summit Held To Grow UK Industry
The UK’s leading advanced manufacturers and Government met today to discuss how to work together to promote manufacturing excellence, challenge perceptions of the industry and dispel the myth that Britain doesn’t make anything anymore.