The Department For Communities and Local Government manages the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in England. This fund is focused on reducing economic disparities within and between member states by supporting economic regeneration and safeguarding jobs.
Yorkshire and the Humber is one of nine regions to qualify for Competitiveness and Employment funding.
Priorities
The Yorkshire and the Humber Operational Programme Document outlines the investment priorities for the region. It focuses on four main priorities, as follows:
· Priority 1 - Promoting Innovation and Research and Development
To stimulate an innovative culture and strengthen the innovation system in the region by increasing technology transfer from universities, institutes and businesses to the business base. This will improve products and processes, promoting networking and setting the framework for businesses to respond to the challenges and opportunities of the knowledge economy.
· Priority 2 - Supporting and Stimulating Successful Enterprise
Promoting a greater shift towards the knowledge intensive growth clusters and sectors in the region by increasing the number of businesses and occupations in high growth and knowledge industries by investing in key business sectors to accelerate economic growth and encourage high value added businesses and by developing a more entrepreneurial culture.
· Priority 3 - Sustainable communities
Targeting will be based on existing community regeneration initiatives. Four districts in South Yorkshire have Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies which provide a framework for investments in areas of greatest need. The focus is on tackling exclusion, creating enterprise opportunities and extending the social economy. It will link closely with the Regional Economic Strategy objective to 'Connect People to good jobs with more people in jobs in deprived areas'.
· Priority 4 (South Yorkshire phasing in only) The full Yorkshire and the Humber Operation Programme Document setting out the strategy of the programme can be found with other documents of interest on the pages below.