European Social Fund
Skills Support for the Unemployed and Apprenticeship Support to Employers
Key features
The provision offer is available on a roll-on / roll-off basis throughout the year. Participation can be full or part-time. The training and skills support must respond to an individual’s skills needs, and be delivered in the context of a personalised skills training programme that meets the needs of local employers or the labour market. Accredited units and qualifications should feature in the training on offer in order that individuals can build on units gained once in employment, either in the workplace or alongside work.
Additional funding to be passed on to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the form of two grant payments (up to a maximum of £2,500) is available for every new apprentice they recruit in order to help them support the candidates through their Apprenticeship.
Target customer group
All Jobcentre Plus customers aged 18 or over (Apprenticeship Grants to SMEs are payable where they take on an 18-24 year old into an Apprenticeship), eligible for Skills Funding Agency and ESF funding under the normal rules and are claiming state benefits, who want to enter employment and need skills training to do so. Only SMEs (1-249 employees) will be eligible for Apprenticeship Grants.’
Delivery by
A mix of contracted independent, college and voluntary providers across the sector.
Outputs
Support must respond to an individual’s skills needs including accredited units and qualifications; outcomes to include jobs, Apprenticeship starts or self employment.
Key point
Support must meet the needs of the local labour market and local employers. Providers are expected to agree their provision / offer with local stakeholders including Jobcentre Plus.
Key documents:
European Social Fund Funding Requirements: Skills Support for the Unemployed and Apprenticeship Support to Employers and Skills Support for Redundancy
This document sets out the way in which the Skills Funding Agency will fund European Social Fund (ESF) for new contracts from April 2011. This document outlines the key ESF requirements that apply to this provision and reinforces the ESF rules and regulations as applied by European Social Fund Division (ESFD) in how they relate to the ESF England Programme. It provides key information to support the delivery of ESF, in particular where the requirements either differ or supplement the normal Skills Funding Agency provision or national ESF criteria.
Please note that this document also contains the following Annexes at the end of the document:
Annex A – Evidence of Job Outcome (4 weeks)
Annex A – Evidence of Job Outcome (26 weeks) London contracts only
Annex B – ESF Apprenticeship Grants for Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Apprentices aged 18 and 24
Annex C – Company Level Data Capture Form (De Minimus)
European Social Fund Delivery Requirements: Skills Support for the Unemployed and Apprenticeship Support to Employers
This document sets out the delivery or service requirements which Skills Funding Agency providers, delivering the Skills Support for the Unemployed and Apprenticeship Support to Employers programme, are expected to adhere to.
Adult European Social Fund Contract Deliverables Evidence Requirements: Skills Support for Redundancy and Skills Support for the Unemployed and Apprenticeship Support to Employers
This document outlines which Individualised Learner Record (ILR) codes need to be used when providers are completing their ILR returns to claim payments for delivering the Skills Support for Redundancy and Skills Support for the Unemployed and Apprenticeship Support to Employers programmes.
If you have any queries about the programmes featured on this website, please contact your Skills Funding Agency Account Manager.
