Project to increase the number of employed people progressing to the next level skills in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area

Higher Level Skills in Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area (OC12S19P1507)

Call to run a project to increase the number of employed people progressing to the next level skills in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area.

Details

We wish to encourage proposals that:

• Place primary emphasis on the capability and capacity of the skills supply side to respond to the demand generated within the priority growth sectors specified and seek to ensure the demand for skilled employees is met.
• Focus on priority growth sectors, with an emphasis on entry as well as intermediate skills.
• Ensure the supply side can facilitate a ‘ladder of skills progression’ from basic skills and employability through to higher level skills.
• Support the co-ordination, promotion and signposting of existing activity via a network of virtual and physical access points across the LEP.
• Work with employers to develop career development pathways (including flexible opportunities for new target groups and those with childcare responsibilities) and using work based skills as a career progression tool.
• Focus on a range of digital skills for employed participants.
• Tackle skills gaps at all levels (backed up with evidence on the scale and types of current gaps and employer satisfaction measures).
• Use data and information to create the intelligence to anticipate and match skills to future demand in the LEP area.

For more information, download the call specification.

Location

The project must cover the Greater Birmingham and Solihull More Developed LEP area.

Value

Approximately £2,000,000 of ESF is available.

Deadlines

Full application deadline: 25 November 2019.

Completion date

Projects must be completed no later than 3 years and 6 months after the proposed project start date, however the ESF Managing Authority reserves the right to vary the maximum duration in exceptional circumstances. All ESF Projects must be completed by 31st December 2023. Project costs cannot be incurred beyond this date.

Full Application Submission

To apply for funding under this call you will need to complete and submit your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT System.

Please note: the ECLAIMS IT System can only be access from within the UK.

Full Applications submitted in the ECLAIMS IT System after the call closing date shown above and on the call specification will not be appraised.

If you do not already have access to the ECLAIMS IT system, please request an ‘ECLAIMS External Access Form’ by emailing [email protected]

You will need to request an External Access Form for each person in your organisation who requires access.

It is your responsibility to ensure you request and activate your ECLAIMS access in sufficient time. We strongly advise that you obtain and activate your ECLAIMS access at least 2 weeks prior to the advertised call closure date, if not sooner.

You are also advised to read the details in the call specification in order to produce an application that complies with the requirements and meets the needs set out in the ESF Operational Programme. All this information, the related guidance and the European Social Fund Operational Programme can be found from our homepage.

The published ESF Online Full Application Guidance also provides step-by-step advice on how to complete your Full Application using the ECLAIMS IT system. ESF Online Full Application Guidance.## Technical Support

If you encounter any technical difficulties completing or submitting your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT system, please send an email to [email protected]

The technical support operating hours are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm and it is your responsibility to ensure you seek and technical advice in sufficient time to complete and submit your Full Application before the published call closure date.

The Managing Authority reserves the right to reject applications which are incomplete or not submitted in a timely and compliant way.

Contact details

If you have any questions about the Call Specification or ESF Online Full Application Guidance, please contact [email protected]. This address should not be used to request technical support.