Activity Summary - 15 August 2008

A new package of dedicated support for businesses and social enterprises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is the latest approved project within the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme. The in-depth specialist business service will be accessed through Business Link. The Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, which received Objective One support, could become part of a global network of Cornish mining landscapes. The UK’s renewable energy policy is to be the topic of a lecture organised by the University of Exeter, a key partner in Combined Universities in Cornwall. And another CUC partner, University College Falmouth, has announced three new postgraduate bursaries for the MA 20th Century Art & Design: Histories & Theories course.

Strategy Development and Post 2006 Programmes
Work is now complete on the review of "Strategy and Action" – the long term overarching economic development strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Strategy and Action encompasses the full range of economic regeneration activity for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – for the period 2007 to 2021. The final "Strategy and Action" document can be accessed at www.economicforum.org.uk.

On 23 October the Government published its response to the consultation on the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), outlining broad priorities, management arrangements and funding allocations for ERDF and ESF Programmes 2007-2013. This allowed development of the new Programmes to commence. It is clear that the programmes for 2007-2013 are very different from the Objective One Programme. Rural and fisheries investment are part of mainstream programmes, Convergence European Social Fund (ESF) Investment will be part of a national programme and there will be a specific European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Operational Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Convergence ERDF Programme
With approximately £311m of ERDF support, the Convergence ERDF Operational Programme will invest in a number of new initiatives, although the scale of investment available will mean that careful prioritisation will be needed to ensure the economic outcomes are realised. The new Programme is also required to focus investment on competitiveness and this restricts the types of investments which can be funded. After extensive consultation the Convergence ERDF Operational Programme was concluded in May 2007, to then be endorsed by Whitehall and sent to Brussels to allow negotiations to begin. You can view the approved Operational Programme by clicking on the links below:

Click here to view the approved ERDF Convergence Operational Programme.

Click here to view the Executive Summary of the approved ERDF Convergence Operational Programme.

Click here to read a press release about approval of the ERDF Convergence Programme.


The South West RDA is taking the lead in the management of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly's ERDF Convergence Programme. For further information please click here to view Frequently Asked Questions.

Convergence ESF Programme
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will benefit from a new seven year programme for skills and training through the European Social Fund (ESF). The new Convergence ESF Framework, which runs for the first three years, is taking forward the Convergence Priorities set out in the England ESF Operational Programme which was sent to Brussels in March 2007. With approximately £133m of ESF support, the Framework sets out a major programme of activity to support those who are not-in-work and those in work to address key skills issues. The interventions will be relevant to the business community with support to up-skill the workforce and address skills shortages. The Framework was consulted on until 1 June 2007. Co Financing Plans have been developed and new project activity is expected to commence in Spring/Summer 2008.

The Managing Authority for the ESF Programme in England 2007-13 is the European Social Fund Division (ESFD) of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Rural and Fisheries Programmes
Further information about the fisheries programme can be found at: www.southwestrda.org.uk/what-we-do/policy/european-prog/european-programmes.shtm.

More information about the Rural Development Programme for England and its Regional Implementation Plan is available at: www.southwestrda.org.uk/what-we-do/regeneration/eafrd/introduction.shtm and www.defra.gov.uk under 'Rural Affairs'.

Investment so far
The Objective One Programme has now endorsed 875 projects to date, investing a total of £352,500,000 of European monies.

For details of all announced projects please click here to see the Project Lists section.

Website report

Website report for 9th August 2008 to 15th August 2008 inclusive

Total visits: 2246
Total pages visited: 12859
Average daily visits: 321
Average number of pages per visit: 5.7

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