In 2013 OxLEP received a notional allocation of around €19.5 million (circa £16.5 million) of European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF) for the period of 2014-2020

The allocation is primarily made up of two funds:
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of €9.75 million (circa £8.2 million) will help:

• Encourage economic growth by supporting Research and Development
• Promote and support SME's
• Create a sustainable low carbon economy

The European Social Fund (ESF) of €9.75 million (circa £8.2 million) will contribute to growth by:

• Increasing labour market participation
• Promoting social inclusion
• Developing the skills of the potential and existing workforce

The European Agricultural Fund For Rural Development (EAFRD)  of €3.45 million (circa £2.9 million) for:

• Improving rural broadband
• Investing in small-scale renewable energy projects
• Promoting rural tourism.

Oxfordshire's ambition on how to spend its funds can be found in the ESIF Strategy, which is available here.

OxLEP has started working on turning it's ESIF plan into action and project ideas are set-up in an emerging Implementation Plan which will be available shortly.

OxLEP has appointed an ESIF Sub-Committee to monitor and advise on the implementation of ESIF up to 2020. The list of members can be found here.

What are the main rules for this funding?

• All projects need to conform to the priorities and ambitions articulated in the Oxfordshire ESIF Plan
• All project calls are subject to open and competitive tendering (OCT)
• Organisations applying for the funding must be legal entities
• Organisations must be able to deliver the project and complete detailed monitoring returns
• ESIF payments will be made in arrears

How is the application process going to work?

The application process for the three elements of the funding (ERDF, ESF and EAFRD) will be slightly different

ERDF

• Managed by Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as the Managing Authority in England
• OxLEP will work directly with DCLG to work up the specifications for project calls
• ERDF has to be 50% matched by the organisation's own project funding, which can be public or private, from local sources

A diagram of how the ERDF application process will work is here

ESF

• Managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• OxLEP has opted in to national programmes funded by the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) , Big Lottery (BL) and the DWP
•  This means that local matched funding will not need to be found by the applicants

A diagram of how the ESF application process will work is here

EAFRD

• EAFRD is managed by the Department For the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• DEFRA will be overseeing the application process for the EAFRD
• EAFRD funding must be 50% matched and may only come from private sources, either in cash or in kind

How do organisations in Oxfordshire apply for ESIF?

• Documents, including the application forms and guidance, are yet to be finalised
• OxLEP will inform partners as soon as the England Operational Programme is agreed, and the application guidance and forms are finalised
• All application documents will be posted on the GOV.UK website and on the OxLEP website
•  OxLEP will be organising a series of events, across Oxfordshire, to inform and advise businesses, community groups and other organisations
• More information regarding ESIF can be found here: www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding

How can I be kept informed about ESIF?

• Please sign up to our monthly newsletter by emailing ESIFEnquiries@oxfordshirelep.com
• Details can be found on http://www.oxfordshirelep.com/content/eu-strategy
• The GOV.UK website will publish all calls for projects and accompanying guidance