EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES

Welfare-to-Work: Environment Task Force

The Environmental Task Force (ETF) is one of four options under the New Deal for 18 – 24 year olds who have difficulty in finding work.  It aims to tackle unemployment by offering 6 months work experience designed to improve both employment prospects and the environment.  The option combines quality work placements with an approved training programme and job search facilities.

A wide range of national and local organisations is involved in delivering ETF projects to clients: regional and local partnerships involving Government Offices, local authorities, voluntary organisations and the private sector.  Projects include forest and park management, energy efficiency, waste management and the reclamation of derelict land.  Many projects offer the opportunity for young people to become involved in the local community, resulting in urban environmental improvements and the regeneration of local communities.  They therefore contribute to sustainable development, and social and economic regeneration, in particular through:

•         tackling youth employment/preventing unemployment;
•         transition from passive measures to active measures;
•         encouraging a partnership approach; and
•         promoting a labour market open to all.

The ETF is funded via the Windfall Tax, which is administered by the Department for Education and Employment.  Projects are eligible for part funding from other sources, including the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and European Social Fund (ESF).  Funding from these sources adds value to eligible New Deal projects, particularly those that provide support for young unemployed people who are at risk from exclusion in the labour market, and enhances existing regeneration projects.

N.B: Environment Task Force can only be match funded during the life of a current contract from the Employment Service.  The procedure is that you apply for an ETF contract with the Employment Service. Once you have a contract you can then apply for additional match funding from Europe or SRB.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT AND LAND USE

English Nature

English Nature awards grants to conservation projects. All projects must fulfil the basic criteria of:

·        Contributing for action delivery for named BAP species and/or habits, or species Recovery Programme (SRP) species;

·        Delivering objectives/actions in a nationally significant Natural Area for the species or habit.

Grants are given under a range of targeted schemes including:

Local Biodiversity Grants - Biodiversity grants are available from our local teams, for work on the conservation and enhancement of local biodiversity.

Information on local grant schemes can be obtained from any of our local teams - see list of addresses and telephone numbers on our web site www.english-nature.org.uk

Wildspace! - English Nature is distributing £5.2 million through the Wildspace! grant scheme to involve local communities in the improvement, care and enjoyment  of their local environment by welcoming applications from organisations involved or interested in managing and developing Local Nature Reserves. (Local Nature Reserves are formally declared by a Local Authority under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.)

The scheme is run in partnership with the New Opportunities Fund under its Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Initiative. Grants are available until September 2006. Further details can be obtained from Lynda Barfoot or Mim Conn on 01733 455415.

Reserves Enhancement Scheme - This grant scheme is aimed at Voluntary Conservation Organisations who manage  Sites of Special Scientific Interest as nature reserves.  These five-year grants contribute to the day to day management of such sites. Further details can be obtained from Dick Lambert or Duncan Macfarlane on 01733 455140 or 01733 455138 respectively.

Section 35 National Nature Reserves Capital Grant Scheme - Grants are available to Approved Bodies under Section 35(1)(c) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, where these Approved Bodies are not eligible for the Reserves Enhancement Scheme. These grants  contribute to capital projects for the improvement of reserve management, access and interpretation . For further information contact Dick Lambert or Duncan Macfarlane on 01733 455140 or 01733 455138 respectively. 

The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (LTCS)

This scheme encourages landfill site operators registered to pay for tax to fund projects that benefit the environment. Under the scheme, landfill site operators can redirect up to 20 per cent of their landfill tax liability to registered environmental bodies in return for a 90 per cent tax credit.

Environmental bodies are enrolled into the LTCS by ENTRUST, the regulatory body specifically set up to oversee the scheme. Contributions are made by landfill operators on a voluntary basis and as a consequence are entirely eligible for match funding.

ENTRUST registers projects that fall into one of these categories:

• reclamation or remediation of contaminated/derelict land
• the reduction or prevention of pollution to land or water
• education or research and development into sustainable waste management
• research and development into the creation of products from, and markets for, recycled waste
• provision and maintenance of public amenities eg – nature reserves, public parks, etc.
• restoration and repair of buildings that are of historic or architectural interest or for religious worship

Eligible environmental bodies include charities, trusts, companies limited by guarantee, partnerships and unincorporated bodies – the only restriction is that they be not for profit.

More than £475 million has been put into the scheme by landfill site operators and 5,200 environmental projects are active or complete nationwide. ENTRUST has found that many environmental bodies have been able to multiply LTCS funding by a factor of four through match funding. Those interested in registering as an environmental body (EB) should contact ENTRUST to request an information pack.

HERITAGE

English Heritage Conservation Grant Schemes

English Heritage’s conservation grant schemes are aimed at the repair and conservation of historic buildings and monuments in England.  £40 million is on offer each year.

Heritage Lottery Fund programmes

The Heritage Lottery Fund uses money raised by the National Lottery to:

• safeguard and enhance our heritage of buildings, objects and the environment, whether man-made or natural, which have been important in the formation of the character and identity of the United Kingdom;
• assist people to appreciate and enjoy their heritage; and
• allow them to hand it on, in good heart, to future generations.
• £330 million is expected to be available to be committed to new projects in 2001/02 and is anticipated to remain the same over the next two years.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Research programmes

LINK Collaborative Research

The LINK Scheme is the UK Government’s main mechanism for promoting partnership in pre-competitive research between industry and the research base.  It aims to stimulate innovation, wealth creation and improve the quality of life.  LINK focuses on areas of strategic importance for the future of the National Economy.  All new programmes address priorities under the Government’s Foresight programme.

LINK is delivered by Government Departments and Research Councils.  Using the LINK scheme mechanism, one or more Departments or councils set up a LINK programme in a defined market or technology sector and commit funds to the programme.  Within each programme, LINK supports a number of collaborative research projects involving research base and industrial partners.  Each project bid will be assessed against a range of criteria including industrial relevance and scientific quality.

LINK programmes and projects cover a wide range of technology and product areas, including; food, agriculture, biosciences, engineering, electronics and communications.  Companies and research organisations throughout the UK can participate in LINK projects.  Small and medium sized enterprises are particularly encouraged to get involved.  Multinationals can also participate providing they have a significant manufacturing and research operation in the UK, and the benefits of research are exploited in the UK or European Economic Area.

Links to business

Faraday Partnerships

Faraday Partnerships initiative aims to promote improved interactions between the UK science, engineering and technology base and industry through the involvement of intermediate organisations.  Faraday partnerships are expected to be business friendly, knowledge base/industry partnerships that are recognised regionally and nationally as centres of expertise and collaboration in their sector or technology.

Since 1997, DTI, EPSRC, PPARC and MAFF have funded 18 Faraday partnerships.  The financial support is provided by the DTI who provides grant funding of up to £1.2 million over 3 years to each Faraday partnership, but with the possibility of a further 2 years support if recommended after an interim evaluation.   The Research Council sponsor(s) provide up to £1 million over 4 years to each Faraday partnership on a pump-priming basis.  The Government is committed to establishing a UK wide network of 24 Faraday Partnerships by 2002.

Faraday Partnerships are expected to become self-supporting in due course through attracting a combination of support through business coupled with funding won in open competition from existing UK Government, Research council and EU schemes e.g. TCS, SMART, LINK, Framework Programme, EUREKA.

EUREKA

The EUREKA initiative, launched in 1985 provides a range of information and practical support for collaborative research and development projects that lead to the development of advanced products, processes or services.  The initiative involves 39 European countries and the European Commission, although it is not an EU programme.  The programme itself does not offer financial support, however support may be available from the DTI.  Grants may be provided to help with the costs of putting projects together.  The level of funding depends upon the nature and scope of the project.  The following maximum grant levels apply:

• 50% of eligible costs for technical and commercial feasibility work and basic research
• 45% of eligible costs for applied research
• 30% of eligible costs for development work

To be eligible, EUREKA projects must include partners from at least two different member countries.  Projects can also be in any technological area.

EUREKA’s overall aim is to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of European Industries in world markets.  With its strong market orientation, EUREKA complements the European Commission’s programmes of strategic research.

 Higher Education Innovation Fund

The £140 million Higher Education Innovation Fund, will triple existing funds and will continue and develop the work of the Higher Education Reach-out to business and the Community Fund in enhancing university-industry collaboration.  Details will be announced shortly.

Science Enterprise Challenge

The Science Enterprise Challenge was launched in February 1999, as a £25 million competition open to all UK universities to establish world-class centres which will:

• foster the commercialisation of research and new ideas;
• stimulate scientific entrepreneurialism;
• incorporate the teaching of enterprise into the science and engineering curricula;
• act as centres of excellence for the transfer and exploitation of scientific knowledge and expertise.

A range of new activities is planned by the centres, including teaching and training to support innovation and entrepreneurship, and development of managerial capacity to enable more business start-ups to grow successfully.  There will be support to increase the capacity of academia to commercialise innovations arising from science and engineering research, and there will be projects to increase the capacity of business to exploit and acquire such knowledge assets. 

There will be a regional focus, with the Centres forming strong links with local business, as well as a national impact through the dissemination of best practice in scientific entrepreneurship education.

It is also planned to facilitate networking and sharing of best practice between the centres and other universities actively involved in entrepreneurship teaching, for example, through organisation of an annual conference and distribution of case studies.

A further £15m has been allocated for a second funding round.  Details have not yet been announced.

STEP (Shell Technology Enterprise Programme)

STEP is a major national work based project scheme that enables SMEs to employ penultimate year undergraduates for eight weeks during their summer vacation to work on projects identified by the employer companies and community organisations. There are also opportunities for some placements at different times of the year. From 1 April 2001 the Small Business Service become the major sponsor and, together with Shell International Ltd, they provide central administration and support to agencies via an administration fee. STEP aims to encourage SMEs to consider employing graduates and to encourage undergraduates to take up careers in smaller enterprises.

TCS

CS enables companies to take advantage of the wealth of scientific, engineering and technological knowledge and business management expertise available in the ‘knowledge base’. The expertise may reside in a Higher Educational Institution or Research Organisation (the knowledge base partner). Each TCS Programme involves the employment of one or more high quality graduates (TCS Associates) working in a company for two years on a project that is central to the company’s needs. TCS Programmes are jointly supervised by representatives of both the knowledge base and the company partner.

Part-funded by means of a DTI grant to the knowledge base partner, the company also contributes to the direct costs of the TCS Programme, but the amount depends on the details of the specific Programme. TCS Programmes involving companies with fewer than 250 employees will normally be expected to contribute around £14,000 per TCS Associate per year whilst companies with 250 or more employees will normally be expected to contribute around £22,200 per TCS Associate per year, as well as their own costs. 

Learndirect

Learndirect is a new national network of learning services developed for individuals and businesses by Ufi Limited. Using modern information and communications technologies, it offers high quality on-line learning products and services available at home, in the workplace and at Learndirect centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Learndirect will play a key role in improving the nation’s competitiveness by raising people’s skill levels and employability. Its primary strategic objective is to stimulate demand for lifelong learning among adults and SMEs by promoting the availability of, and improving access to, relevant high quality learning through the use of ICT.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION

British Trade International

British Trade International comprises UK Trade & Investment, which deals with trade development, trade promotion and outward investment and UK Trade & Investment (formerly the Invest in Britain Bureau, IBB), which promotes the whole of UK as a location for inward investment.

The purpose of UK Trade & Investment is to increase and develop British business success overseas.  In principle all UK Trade & Investment promotional funding can be used as match funding, including grant support available for visiting markets as part of a sponsored mission.  These grants are managed through sponsor bodies such as Trade Associations, Chambers of Commerce or Business Links.  Practical and financial assistance is also available for exhibiting as part of a UK group at selected overseas trade fairs under the Government’s Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad Scheme (SESA).

---

| index |

---

Home - Search - Site Map - Contact Us

disclaimer

Site Information