COVID-19 RESPONSE –THE WORKFORCE – FUNDING

1. Title: COVID-19 RESPONSE –THE WORKFORCE – FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and Rural Payments Agency, GB Email: esf.2014-2020@dwp.gov.uk / E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.uk.3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: This call brings together allocations for Cheshire and Warrington under Investment Priorities 2.1 and 2.2 into one “merged” call.It is expected that one contract will be awarded under this call, or at most one for each Investment Priority, and so consortia or other partnership arrangements are strongly encouraged.Traditionally Cheshire and Warrington has had more jobs than residents, but the impact of COVID-19 is changing that position. Skills provision is needed to add capacity and complement existing business support programmes for new start-ups and SMEs with high growth potential, including:leadership and managementcoaching and mentoringentrepreneurial skillshow to develop markets, access supply chains and win tendersmentoring for individuals who have recently acquired new skillsApplicants must demonstrate how they will link with, complement, and where appropriate, build on the work already being done by existing projects in Cheshire and Warrington (including the Skills for Growth Accelerate project).Activity should also link with the work already being undertaken by the Cheshire and Warrington Pledge Project which promotes career opportunities in key sectors to young people.Further steps to build upon that work include:increasing capacity in Cheshire and Warrington SMEs to help them progress from showcasing their career opportunities to increasing the numbers of people actually recruited into those businesseslinking with the support being developed under the Cheshire and Warrington IP1.1/1.2 call, in particular by raising the capacity of SMEs and helping them to be able to offer opportunities for newly unemployed people, 18 to 24 year olds, and people aged 50 or overActivities under IP 2.2 should be focused on support to SME organisations as the primary target audience.For more information, download the Call Specification available on the website below5. CPV Code(s): 73110000, 98000000, 731100006. NUTS code(s): UKD, UKD6, UKD617. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: Cheshire & WarringtonLocation:North WestThe project must cover the Cheshire & Warrington LEP area.8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: OC03S20P17969. Estimated value of requirement: Approximately £2m of ESF is available.10. Full application deadline: 11.3.2021 (24:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit: 12. Other information: Fund state: OpenType: Learning and skillsFunding source:European Social FundProjects must be financially completed (i.e. have a proposed Financial Completion Date) no later than 31st December 2023; however, the Managing Authority reserves the right to vary the maximum duration in exceptional circumstances.To apply for funding under this call you will need to complete and submit your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT System.Full Applications submitted in the ECLAIMS IT System after the call closing date shown above and on the call specification will not be appraised.If you do not already have access to the ECLAIMS IT system, please request an ‘ECLAIMS External Access Form’ by emailing E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.ukYou will need to request an External Access Form for each person in your organisation who requires access.You are also advised to read the details in the call specification in order to produce an application that complies with the requirements and meets the needs set out in the ESF Operational Programme.All this information, the related guidance and the European Social Fund Operational Programme can be found from our homepage .The published ESF Online Full Application Guidance also provides step-by-step advice on how to complete your Full Application using the ECLAIMS IT system. ESF Online Full Application Guidance.If you encounter any technical difficulties completing or submitting your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT system, please send an email to E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.ukThe technical support operating hours are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm and it is your responsibility to ensure you seek and technical advice in sufficient time to complete and submit your Full Application before the published call closure date.The Managing Authority reserves the right to reject applications which are incomplete or not submitted in a timely and compliant way.Contact detailsIf you have any questions about the Call Specification or ESF Online Full Application Guidance, please contact esf.2014-2020@dwp.gov.uk. This address should not be used to request technical support.# funding opportunity# COVID-19