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Mainstreaming Transnationality into European Social Fund Programmes in Wales (2007-2013) Neil Thomas (Welsh Assembly Government). WALES EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL FUND REGIONS 2007 - 2013. Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future.
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Mainstreaming Transnationality into European Social Fund Programmes in Wales (2007-2013) Neil Thomas (Welsh Assembly Government)
WALES EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL FUND REGIONS 2007 - 2013 Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
West Wales & the Valleys Convergence Priorities • 1. Supplying young people with the skills for employment (€164.9m*) • 2. Increasing employment and tackling economic inactivity (€286.8m*) • 3. Improving skill levels and the adaptability of the workforce (€331.8m*) • 4. Modernising and improving the quality of our public services (€33.0m*) • (* ESF grant values) Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 1: Supplying young people with skills for learning and future employment • Priority focuses exclusively on young people 11-19; • Tackling underachievement as well as raising skills and aspirations; • 70% of resources will be targeted at the 14-19 and 30% at 11-13; • 25% of young people helped will be in the NEET category; • 30% of participants to gain qualifications and 60% to progress to further learning. Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 2 and RC&E Priority 1: Increasing employment and tackling economic inactivity • Shift of focus more towards the economically inactive • Convergence – 70% • RC&E – 85% • Targets to get 25% of participants into work; 30% to gain qualifications and 33% to progress to further learning (both programmes); • Convergence priority can also support workplace heath programmes. Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 3 and RCE Priority 2: Improving skill levels and the adaptability of the workforce • 60% of Convergence funding will be targeted at raising the skills base (i.e. basic literacy and numeracy, and up to Level 2); • 35% at higher level skills i.e. Levels 3, 4 and above; • 5% at promoting gender equality; • Strong emphasis within RCE programme on raising skills base but also scope for supporting training at higher levels within small businesses (up to 50 employees); • Ambitious targets for qualifications achievement (e.g. 42% of Convergence participants to achieve qualifications, including 50% of those pursuing basic skills). Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 4: Modernising and improving the quality of our public services • Convergence only and smallest priority; • New area of activity for ESF and fits well with Welsh public services improvement agenda - Making the Connections; • 40% of funding in this priority will support collaborative projects across public services; • 60% of the priority resources will be spent on workforce planning and development. Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
East Wales Regional Competitiveness & Employment • Increasing employment and tackling economic inactivity (€ 29.8m*) • Improving skill levels and the adaptability of the workforce (€ 32.5m*) • (*ESF grant value) Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Approach to Trans-national Projects • Horizontal integration across all ESF Programmes • No financial limits or targets for transnational activity • Must fit priorities/themes in OPs & Strategic Frameworks Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Key Themes for Transnational Activity (ESF) • Adaptability • Integration of job-seekers and inactive people • Integration of disadvantaged groups and combating discrimination • Enhancing human capital • Identifying innovative technologies and successful leadership and management practices in a trans-national context. Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Issues working transnationally…… • Culture change - transnational activity not an add-on • Extra time and effort to find right partners • Different cultures and working practices. Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
What is Wales doing…….? • Trans-national and Territorial Co-operation Strategy: • WEFO’s role:- • identify areas of co-operation – programme and project • raise awareness of stakeholders of new opportunity • partner signposting via networks e.g. EARLALL • guidance on practical aspects of trans-national working • website to post project ideas, links with other regions • seminars to publicise transnational project ideas; Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Welsh Project Ideas • ‘Roots to Success’ • Vocational Education and Training Mobility • Recognition of learning for migrant workers