Listen
£95 million to help Scottish economy
18/04/2009
A cash injection of almost £95 million in European funding will be directed towards Scotland's economic recovery through programmes to develop the workforce, safeguard and create jobs, and regenerate communities.
A total of 129 projects across Scotland will benefit from £70.2 million in new allocations from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £24.7 million in allocations from European Social Fund (ESF).
The 50 new ERDF projects, focusing on business growth, urban regeneration and rural development, will support the creation of almost 8,000 jobs.
The 79 new ESF projects are expected to support 75,000 people gain or sustain employment opportunities through training and skills development.
The ERDF projects include:
- The John Logie Baird project in Glasgow (£2,366,876)will create a national centre for innovation in the Merchant City, bringing together enterprises and support services in a supportive environment and assisting the continued regeneration of the area
- Rural Action Plan for Moray (£1,037,698) includes five schemes that form part of Moray Community Planning Partnership's approach to rural development in the area. The projects receiving support include Buckie Business Park, Elgin Industrial Site, Moray Learning Centres and a Sustainable Travel Scheme
- The West of Scotland Loan Fund (£6,000,000) will provide loans of up to £50,000 to new and growing businesses. It will invest in businesses that have failed to receive financial support from the private sector, including banks
The ESF projects include:
- Adam Smith College's CREATE (Create Equal Access To Education) project (£943,580) increases access to Further Education and Lifelong Learning opportunities through eLearning
- Pathways Aberdeen (£167,128) is a Momentum Scotland programme which offers training and support to adults with a brain injury to help them into employment or further education
- Responding to Redundancy (£1,363,861) is a national project that will significantly increase the support Skills Development Scotland offers to people facing redundancy. It will offer support through access to training, career planning interviews, employability interviews and on-line resources
- Make the Move (£336,941) will support 465 people with learning disabilities into work through tailored programmes that will help them overcome any barriers to employment. This includes accessing training, financial advice and addressing support needs in the workplace
First Minister Alex Salmond said:
"The Scottish Government is doing all we can to ensure strong economic recovery, which includes front loading European Structural Funds and targeting them to maximise Scottish employment and output at this critical time.
"This European funding is helping to develop the skills of our workforce, support the creation of almost 8,000 jobs, regenerate our communities and stimulate local economies.
"This £95 million cash injection of ERDF and ESF funding will support our six-point economic recovery plan and provide a welcome boost to towns and cities across Scotland.
"The funding will focus on projects which provide Scotland's workforce with the tools and training they need to embrace opportunities in the employment market.
"The European funding will also concentrate on urban regeneration projects that will see increased opportunities and investment in some of the country's most deprived areas
"New conditions and new opportunities will arise from the current global downturn and I am confident Scotland has what it takes to rebuild growth, and prosperity for all."
Full details of the 129 projects benefiting from the Lowlands and Uplands ESF and ERDF funding will be announced next week.
Funding for European Structural Funds Programmes in the Highlands and Islands was announced last month.
Four main ESF Programmes operate across Scotland. The announcement today of a further 129 projects for the Lowlands and Uplands ESF and ERDF Programmes brings the total number of projects approved across Scotland to 472, with approved direct investment of almost £335 million of the €820 million allocation to Scotland for 2007-13 (figures are provided at a £1 to €1.20 rate).