Call to run a project to offer support to individuals to undertake apprenticeships, and to employers (particularly SMEs) to offer apprenticeships, including promoting opportunities and offering a locally relevant in depth support service. This could include supporting employers to access unspent levy in order to open up apprenticeship opportunities.

Details

As the Skills Strategy sets out, with a population of 0.5 million 15-25 year olds and 2.5 million people of working age, there is a considerable potential to support local people to take up apprenticeships. There is a need to support these individuals, ensure alignment to growth sectors and also the large proportion of SMEs across the SELEP area, who may lack capacity to navigate the apprenticeship levy and reforms.

Proposals are therefore invited which offer support to individuals to undertake apprenticeships, including promoting opportunities and offering a locally relevant in depth support service. This could include supporting employers to access unspent levy in order to open up apprenticeship opportunities.

Bidders should consider related areas of work such as T-levels and work placements and simplifying the offer for individuals and SMEs. Support offered should be impartial.

For more information, download the call specification.

Location

The project must cover the South East LEP area.

Value

Approximately £1,700,000 of ESF is available.

Deadlines

Full application deadline: 15 October 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.

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.

Published 23 July 2019 Contents