1. ESF Future Open Calls
Rob Wadsworth, S4W Ltd

2. Research into Future Open Calls
Desktop review of underlying economic evidence, changing labour market and trends since 2013
Voluntary Action Leicester Technical Assistance Forum
Online survey consultation: link from the LLEP website and wide distribution – live until the 21st July
Consultation Event – 13th July at City Hall, Leicester
Opportunity for an interview with key partners, delivery bodies and members of LLEP People Board

3. EUSIF Target Groups
Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)
Job seekers who have been unemployed for over six months
Young people leaving the care system
People on inactive benefits (e.g. Employment Support Allowance)
People with no qualifications or lacking basic skills
People with childcare needs
People with learning difficulties or disabilities
People disadvantaged by rurality
People from BME backgrounds
Teenage pregnancies / young mothers
People from new and emerging migrant communities
Substance misusers
Those with caring responsibilities
People with English language needs
Ex-offenders
People aged 50+
People supported by the Youth Offending Team or Probation Service
Participants in Troubled Families programmes
Job seekers

4. Changing economic circumstances
Period of uninterrupted economic growth, creating around 25,000 additional jobs in Leicester and Leicestershire since 2013
Growth in per capita Gross Value Added is the 6th highest of English Local Enterprise Partnerships
Employment rate has risen and unemployment has fallen faster than the national average (by 65% since 2013)
Youth unemployment has also fallen rapidly and there has been a reduction in NEET rates

5. Changing economic circumstances
Ageing workforce creating replacement demand and increasing skills shortages in businesses, some parts of Leicestershire have falling working age population bases

6. Changing economic circumstances
Reduction in overall level of skills available to the economy through demographic and structural changes in workforce

7. Changing economic circumstances
Reduction in overall level of skills available to the economy through demographic and structural changes in workforce

8. Changing economic circumstances
Whilst employment has increased, low average earnings remain an issue

9. Changing economic circumstances
Employment Rates for BAME individuals remain lower than overall employment rates
Employment Rate for BAME residents and overall Employment Rate (December 2016)

10. Changing economic circumstances
IB/ESA claimant rates for those aged from 2013 to 2016 have increased whilst the claimant count has fallen
IB/ESA Claimant rates for those aged 55-64
November 2013
November 2014
November 2015
November 2016
Leicester and Leicestershire
3.42
3.79
4.58
5.45
Leicester
6.29
6.85
8.29
9.69
Leicestershire
2.33
2.61
3.13
3.78
England
3.49
3.98
4.51
5.59
East Midlands
3.24
3.66
4.54
5.77

11. Changing economic circumstances
Changes in composition of new emerging communities, in some cases quite rapidly
Access to services and employment remain an issue in rural areas and some communities
Disadvantaged communities still in relatively the same position
Whilst NEET classifications have fallen, there are still high numbers of young people in situations at risk of NEET
Number of people on benefits with caring responsibilities has been increasing

12. Employment Gateway (SFA) £1m
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Allocation Remaining Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Employment Gateway (SFA)
£1m
£2.8m
Sector Based Initiatives (SFA)
£0.2m
Entry to Employment Support (DWP)
£2.7m
£0.34m
Ex-Offenders into Employment (SFA)
£0.45m
NEET Support (SFA)
£1.2m
Family Inclusion (BLF)
Financial/Digital Inclusion (BLF)
Holistic Social Inclusion (BLF)
£2.6m
Rural Social Inclusion (BLF)
Social Inclusion for under 25s (BLF)
Business/Enterprise Skills (SFA)
£0.9m
£5.8m
Leadership/Management Skills (SFA)
Skills Metro (SFA)
Employment Hub (Open)
£2m
£3.2m

13. Thematic Objectives 8 and 9
Provision ending in March 2018
Potential Gaps in Provision
Some NEET Provision
Support for some BME groups – with links to additional work focussed ESOL provision
Employment Gateway service
Support for those with low level mental health problems/disabilities to access employment and training
Accessing employment in growth sectors
Support for over 50s to play an enhanced role in the labour market
Specific support to ex-offenders

14. Key areas to consider in future calls
Should open calls be released for Social Inclusion (IP 1.4) at this point in advance of any formal notification from the Big Lottery Fund about future participation
Is additional Young Persons/NEET activity needed and desirable? Where should the emphasis be placed? Is there enough resource in IP 2.2 or is it a Social Inclusion IP1.4 project?
Are any of the existing projects that end in 2018 essential, would they work as Open Calls?
Health has arisen as a growing issue – does it make sense to put out activity that might compete with the DWP Work and Health programme?
Given the level of resources available for over 25s, would targeted provision be a sensible use of resources? Older people generally seem to be a growing issue

15. Thematic Objective 10 Provision ending in March 2018
Potential Gaps in Provision
Skills Metro
Support to enhance the employability of graduates and support enhanced retention
Business and Enterprise Skills
Enabling the development and delivery of Higher Level Apprenticeships
SME Leadership and Management Skills
Leadership and Management support aimed at support SMEs with Skills Development, HR and workforce planning
Specific activity to develop vocational STEM skills
Skills to support growth in key sectors, particularly given major capital investment in facilities and infrastructure
Support for those who are in unsustainable or low paid employment to move up the career ladder, particularly in the provision of transferable skills

16. Call Specifications – IP 1.1
Supported centred on BAME communities to increase employment – with a strong emphasis on supporting women and overcoming some of the language/ESOL barriers to work and progression and improving the BAME employment rate (around £1.4m ESF)
Support aimed at the Over 50s to re-enter the labour market, especially those that are on inactive benefits – with support for those with health issues or caring responsibilities (around £1.4m ESF)

17. Call Specifications – IP 2.1
Supported for leadership and management skills in businesses – especially linked to tackling future skills needs, progression and workforce/skills planning and productivity (around £1.9m ESF)
Support for workforce and skills development in key sectors –enhancing access to lifelong learning including informal learning and qualifications/part qualifications (around £1.9m ESF)
Support for those in temporary/insecure employment including those under-employed and claiming Universal Credit or other in-work benefits – delivery of transferable skills to support progression and career development (around £1.8m ESF)

18. Call Specifications – IP 2.2
Support to improve labour market relevance of activities to support increasing rates of employment of graduates in SMEs and to increase graduate retention in Leicester and Leicestershire through engaging businesses to increase graduate placements, supporting the delivery of Higher Level Apprenticeships and identifying how to fill gaps in key technical skills (around £1.3m ESF)

19. Conclusions
Strong evidence based and well consulted series of interventions in Leicester and Leicestershire to progress IP1.1, 2.1 and 2.2 to 94% commitment
Programme of activity that meets the changing requirements of the Leicester and Leicestershire economy
Evidence base and subject matter for any additional calls that may be required
Deliverable series of calls with the underpinning of research and consultation to provide potential providers

20. Contacts Rob Wadsworth Director, S4W Ltd rob@s4w.org.uk
Brian Holdsworth
Project Manager, S4W Ltd