Find out more about ESF funding opportunities and how to apply.
European Social Fund
The European Social Fund (ESF) forms part of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and aims to improve employment opportunities across the EU, raise living standards and assist people to get better skills and improve their job prospects.
Key facts
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69k
participants supported into work on leaving in the 2007-13 ESF Programme
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402k
participants estimated to receive support from the 2014-20 ESF Programme
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84k
participants expected to enter employment or job search on leaving the ESF programme
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15k
participants expected to gain basic skills on leaving the ESF programme
The role of the GLA as a Co-Financing Organisation
The GLA was granted CFO status in March 2016 and took on responsibility for the ESF programmes that had previously been delivered by London Development Agency (LDA), as well as developing and managing a suite of Youth themed projects during the 2007-2013 ESF delivery period.
For both the 2014-20 and 2019-23 ESF delivery period the GLA has developed a suite of ESF eligible projects and programmes that align with GLA Statutory responsibilities and Mayoral Priorities. The projects will be commissioned and managed by the GLA's Delivery Unit who sits within the GLA Skills and Employment Unit.
With the use of allocated ESF funding, we have designed projects to help unemployed people and low paid workers to gain the skills they need to find jobs and progress in their careers. The projects will work with communities, businesses, charities and educators to do this supportively with a focus on helping people who face barriers, to overcome them.
Our projects have been developed to respond to the priorities identified within the London Economic Action Partnership's European Structural Investment Fund strategy, the Mayor's Skills for Londoners Strategy and other Mayoral priorities.
CFO status allows the GLA to develop a suite of European Social Fund (ESF) co-funded projects that will benefit Londoners, while meeting the objectives of Mayoral priorities.
The GLA CFO is responsible for:
- publicising project opportunities and awarding grants
- management of delivery to ensure that funding is spent appropriately
- providing 50 per cent of the funding, which is matched with 50 per cent ESF funds to provide 100 per cent of the cost of delivery
- developing and delivering projects that meet the specific needs of London LEP ESIF Strategy
- ensuring that the ESF provision funded reflects regional objectives and complements existing domestic employment and skills funding.
Below you can find out more about the GLA as a Co-Financing Organisation.
Please see project list below which includes the organisations currently delivering the GLA’s ESF Co-Financing programme
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Sign upThe role of the GLA as an Intermediate Body
The European Programmes Management Unit (EPMU) at the GLA is responsible for managing the London ESF Programme as an Intermediate Body. The day-to-day responsibilities of EPMU include developing calls for funding, performance monitoring and management, carrying out pre and post-expenditure checks on projects and reclaiming ESF funds where necessary.
For the current programming period, ending in December 2023, the ESF programme has been delivered across England’s 39 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas. Each of which has provided advice to the Managing Authority (the GLA Intermediate Body in London), on the needs and opportunities in an area and on the strategic fit of applications for funding.
Below you can find out more about the work of the European Programmes Management Unit.
The European Social Fund is managed by the Greater London Authority acting as an Intermediate Body on behalf of the DWP
Find out more about some of the skills and employment projects ESF is helping to fund in London.
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