Skills Capital Funding

SELEP received a total allocation of £22 million Skills Capital Funding from the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) for the period April 2015-April 2017 to support the building, refurbishment and equipment purchase. This enabled 29 projects, which were funded across four funding rounds, with roughly a 50% match funding contribution from local authorities, colleges and the private sector.

Projects were aligned to growth sectors across the LEP area to deliver a significant number of qualifications, apprenticeships and provide industry-relevant, leading edge facilities. Bids had to illustrate support for NEET (‘Not in Education, Employment, or Training’) and unemployed learners.

All bids for funding went through a skills evaluation process with input from representatives from each of the federated Employment and Skills Boards to ensure a fit with growth sectors as well as SFA or independent evaluation.

Indicative figures illustrate that until 2021, across the projects, there will be delivery of:

• additional 15,000 full time qualifications
• 7,300 additional apprenticeships
• approximately 21,527 sq m of new and improved learning and training floor space and facilities

EU Funded Skills

SELEP has successfully directed a number of EU funding streams to deliver skills opportunities across the South East LEP area.

European Social Fund (ESF)

The South East LEP area has a range of ESF funded programmes for individuals and employers that are changing lives.

“ESF focuses on improving the employment opportunities, promoting social inclusion and investing in skills by providing help people need to fulfil their potential.” 

UK Government statement

The SELEP area was allocated nearly €90 million for 2014-2020 (approximately £80 million) with match funding provided by the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) and Big Lottery, who managed evaluations. Approximately £50 million of this has been contracted to date.