leps and eu sif: preparing to engage
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was given by Rachel Quinn (One East Midlands) on 27 March 2014 in York. In the presentation Rachel discussed the role of LEP's. Find out more about NCVO's european policy work:TRANSCRIPT
LEPs and EU SIF:Preparing to Engage
Rachel Quinn, One East Midlands27 March 2014
York
Understand your LEP• Stimulating Private-Sector led growth• Job creation
How? • Growing Places Fund – delivering local infrastructure
priorities• Regional Growth Fund – drawing private sector
leverage for job creation• Enterprise Zones – growth stimulation via simplified
planning and business tax breaks• City Deals – Removing barriers to growth
Lord Heseltine’s Review• ‘No Stone Unturned’ published October 2012• Government response March 2013 – 81 out of 89
recommendations accepted, 5 rejected, 3 in SR• Increasing Whitehall asks of / offers to LEPs - and
increasing focus on their performance• Single Local Growth Fund from 2015• LEPs to develop multi year strategic plans• Funding to be allocated though Local Growth Deals• LEPs to take greater role in EU funding distribution• Support LEP capacity
LEP Roles
Lead role for LEPs – notional 7 year allocations• Develop strategy, working with wide range of partners• Select projects (commissioning, bidding and co-financing)• Identify match funding• Spend allocation (on time and in line with EU regulations)• Ensure outcomes delivered • Monitor delivery against strategy and programme priorities• Not responsible for administering the funds (remains with
Managing Authorities)• THIS IS NOT THE ONLY THING THEY ARE DOING…….!
LEP allocations for ERDF and ESF 2014 to 2020 (Y&H)
LEP Allocation €m
Leeds City Region 391.2
Humber 102.4
York and North Yorkshire 97.5
Sheffield City Region 203.4
Greater Lincolnshire 133.5
Know your Strengths!Structural:• Employs 2.7% workforce• Spends £1.5bn in Y&H
economy• Holds £2.8bn in assets• Access to volunteers• High level and diverse skill
base• Geographical reach – for
delivery, intelligence and to test effectiveness of interventions
• Geographical flexibility - from national to local
• Established networks and communication systems
Strategic:• Access to match funding –
cash, assets, volunteers• Existing Co-financer working
relationships (e.g. SFA, NOMS, DWP)
• Existing relationships with Managing Authorities
• Reach, data and intelligence• Assessment of social inclusion,
poverty and disadvantage• Delivering cross-cutting
themes: Planning for Equality & Diversity and Sustainable Development outcomes
More Strengths!• Operational:• Delivery specialisms e.g. digital
inclusion, skills & employability, micro & social enterprise growth, young people, health & wellbeing and environmental sustainability
• Focus on disadvantage• Rural and urban coverage• Scalability• Use of and access to social
investment products and models• Proven technical expertise of:
– community led local development,
– community grants, – social inclusion
• Experiential:• ESF, ERDF and EAFRD experience
(planning, management and delivery)
• Scrutiny of EU programmes• Co-production• Complex funding packages• Successful anti- poverty and
inclusion work• Stimulating Community Led Local
Development (e.g. LEADER)*see slide notes
• Experience of the development of new ideas, products and services to meet social need (social innovation)
• Working in partnerships and consortia
Understand the Challenges; Address the Weaknesses
• Capacity and knowledge – esp. small groups• Engagement and representation• Conflicts of interest• Local leadership • Consortia building• Funding advice• Demonstrating Economic Impact• Timescales
Grasp the Opportunities• Invest in knowledge• Social Inclusion• Big Lottery Fund• Community grants• Social innovation / investment / enterprise• Intelligence and data• Equality and social value• Funding advisors• Match funding (volunteer time??)• Identify projects and partnerships NOW
Stimulate Ideas
Know the Code of Conduct on Partnership Working
• Governance– Board– Sub groups or advisory groups
• Engagement– Involvement in consultation – active input– Sector communication mechanism in place
• Strategy– Role of CS clearly identified– Strategy for Social Inclusion– Take up of available ‘social’ options
More Information and resources are on the Reach & Impact web page:
www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/reachandimpact
or Regional Voices atwww.regionalvoices.org
or atwww.europeanfundingnetwork.eu
Preparing to Collaborate
June Gomes27 March 2014
York
Why Collaborate? • Geographic Scale• Working across LEP area• Synergies with what other organisations do• Building a seamless pathway / client journey /
supply chain• Adding niche aspects to service
Commissioner perspectives• Often don’t want to fund two similar projects
in an area / duplication• Want to see evidence that you’ve done your
preparatory work• Bid size threshold?• Value for money/ Best service
Collaboration Spectrum
Networks/ Loose consortia Formal consortia MergersPartnerships
.
Different contracting forms• Provider• Managing Agent• Managing Provider• ‘Super Provider’
ProviderContractor
Provider Provision of Services
Managing AgentContractor
Managing Agent
Sub-contractors Provision of Services
Managing ProviderContractor
Managing Provider Provision of Services
Sub-contractors Provision of Services
Managing Agent/ProviderContract top slicePercentage of contract to pay formanagement of sub-contractors:
Performance Quality Financial management
‘Super Provider’
Provider Provider
Provider Provider
Provider Provider
How does it work?
• Incorporation to form new legal entity• Providers become members of this company• Hub and spokes operating model
Social ownership
• Owned and controlled by the members
• 2 tier governance:
Council of MembersBoard
Cross Sector CollaborationThere is also scope for cross sector collaboration:
• Working with universities/public sector/private sector
• Tackling issues of economic growth and development through innovation and research & development.
• Addressing youth unemployment and social inclusion through social innovation
• Benefits of cross collaboration – match funding, expertise, diverse range of partners, meeting more needs of the community
Success Factors
• Find the right partner(s)• Begin now, don’t wait. • Choose a fit for purpose structure• Look beyond a single opportunity (e.g.
European infrastructure funds)• Talk to the LEP
How to get started? • Bring partners together• Seed corn/set up funding• Business/ Project plan • Outcomes/ interventions• Supply chain development/who does what• Develop and write bids• Win!!!
Working up Project ideas• What would the project look like? • What would deliverables be?• What might be an appropriate consortium
model?• On what basis would you select partners?
Start up Funding• Community Services Grants
• Up to £10k, available to any organisation with an interest in delivering a public service. Specific mission to support consortia.
• For more information:
• http://www.sibgroup.org.uk/communityrights/
• http://mycommunityrights.org.uk/community-right-to-challenge/grants/
• As part of their application, organisations are encouraged to fill out an online ‘Contract Readiness Checker’
• http://www.contractreadinesschecker.org.uk/