Devising a Single Regional Programme in the North West of England Dr Pernille Kousgaard, Head of European Policy, NWDA

Overview Background to the NW Current Structural Funds Regional context - Regional Economic Strategy and links to the Lisbon Agenda Current Status of programme planning Major Issues

Background to the NW region 6.8 million people 147 billion economy 230,000 firms Recent economic growth faster than England average, creating 150,000 new jobs

Challenges – to reach England average 80,000 fewer people working 120,000 more people with no qualifications 80,000 fewer people with degree-level qualifications 90,000 fewer people working in the knowledge economy 38,000 fewer companies 19 billion productivity gap compared with England average –14.5 billion due to lower productivity –4.5 billion due to fewer people working

Current Structural Funds Objective 1 Objective 2 and 3 Urban, Leader+, Interreg & Equal

Regional Economic Strategy and Links to EU Lisbon Agenda RES developed and agreed by all partners in 2006 Vision: A dynamic, sustainable international economy which competes on the basis of knowledge, advanced technology and an excellent quality of life for all Spatial and thematic targeting 3 Drivers and 5 Themes 45 transformational activities agreed

Current Status of New ERDF Programme Planning Consultants working with partners Programme structure agreed: Single ERDF Programme Key focus on –Targeted business support – sectors, high growth start-ups, access to finance, sustainable production –Innovation and knowledge transfer –Strategic sites, transport and tourism –Enterprise and Employment – urban/rural dimension, sustainable communities, deprived areas, excluded groups Cross Cutting themes

Major Issues Partnership building Governance Alignment with UK domestic funding Delivery Mechanisms – regional, sub regional and local Cross Cutting Themes Links to ESF National Programme Potential for Inter-regional activity

Conclusion New regional partnership being developed with mixture of regional, sub regional and local delivery Alignment of policy, programmes and funding at the highest possible level Simplification Fewer, bigger projects Clear focus on RES and Lisbon