In Scotland, Structural Funds are the significant source of European Union funding for economic development in Scotland. Programmes run over a 7 year period. From 2000-2006 Structural Funds spending provided over £1.1 billion of support for Scotland, supporting the Scottish Government's aims of boosting economic growth and improving productivity in Scotland while reducing economic and social disparities.
The next round of Structural Funds Programmes is underway for the period 2007-2013. Despite significantly less funds available, the resources available will allow us to continue focusing Structural Funds in line with the key Scottish priorities and strategies.
This site is designed to assist you in;
- Obtaining all the latest news on Programme development for 2007-2013
- Getting to know the different forms of funding available
- Signposting you to all the key information you will need
Latest News
26 September 2008
Publicity Guidance for Structural Funds projects
The Scottish Government and our IAB partners have today published guidance on how projects can comply with European Commission publicity requirements.
The guidance is available on both the ESEP and HIPP IAB websites.
12 September 2008
Stage 1 applications
The Scottish Government and our IAB partners, ESEP and HIPP, are currently assessing the Stage 1 applications received for the ERDF and ESF Programmes in both the Lowlands and Uplands (LUPS) and Highlands and Islands (H&I) areas. The following number of applications are being assessed:
- LUPS (application round 2) - 155 ESF applications. 113 ERDF applications.
- H&I (application round 3) - 42 ESF applications. 23 ERDF applications.
These assessments will be complete soon and all project contacts will be notified of the outcome, via e-mail from the new on-line system, €UROSYS. Those applications successful in the Stage 1 process will then be invited to submit a further Stage 2 application on €UROSYS by no later than 10 October 2008.
Evaluation contracts awarded
The Scottish Government has set up an evaluation framework contract to cover all evaluation activity under the four 2007-13 Scottish Programmes. The contract, awarded after a full competitive tendering process, will run for 3 years, with an option for a further one year extension at the end of that period. The 3 successful companies to be placed on the framework contract are:
- Blake Stevenson
- Fraser Associates
- Hall Aitken
The Scottish Government looks forward to working with all 3 companies to deliver on the detail of the Scottish Programmes' Evaluation Plan.
05 September 2008
Call for Advisory Group Members
Applications are being sought today for a limited number of additional members of the Advisory Groups which were established last year for the 2007-13 European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programmes. This is to ensure a good representative balance of external stakeholders with relevant experience and expertise.
Applications should be submitted in time for the appraisal of second round applications. There are different deadlines for the Programmes operating in different parts of the country:
- For Highlands & Islands Advisory Groups a response is required no later than Friday 19 September 2008.
- For Lowlands and Uplands Advisory Groups a response is required no later than Friday 28 November 2008.
Full details are available in the Nominations for Advisory Groups for the 2007-2013 Programmes guidance. The information is also being released on the IAB websites at ESEP and HIPP.
Scottish Strutural Funds Operational Programmes
Availlable for download today is the documentation for each of the four the Operational Programmes:
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