Latest ESF News
Updated on 12 October 2009
Dorset Youth LEAP into Action
Career prospects for Dorset teenagers are improving thanks to a successful programme that is geared towards helping youngsters recognise their own abilities and empowering them to use them. The LEAP Project – Leading, Empowering and Achieving with Purpose - is a two week intensive programme for 16 to 19 year olds who are not in education, employment or training. It is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) through the European Social Fund (ESF). Read more.
A New Vision for Fletcher Architecture
Chippenham based Fletcher Architecture has created its own blueprint for success thanks to a Survival Toolkit offer provided by GWE Business West funded by ESF (European Social Fund). Paul Fletcher, founding director of the Royal Institute of British Architects Chartered Practice that supports both public and private clients with architectural design and advisory services, attended the ‘Surviving and Flourishing in 2009’ workshop and has since reconstructed his own business model and launched his first website. Read more.
Lee Becomes Earthwise
Lee Martin is a self-employed plumber based out of St Austell. He’s always been fascinated by sustainable energy and with the help of European Social Funding (ESF) through the Learning and Skills Council he has re-invented his business and now deals solely with energy-saving technology. Within days of his new beginning Lee was being stopped in the street by potential customers who had read about the services he now provides on the side of his van.
Read more.
Better Skills Save Time and Energy
Somar International Ltd based in Threemilestone near Truro develops, manufactures and sells energy saving technology, and recently received European Social Funding (ESF) through the Learning and Skills Council to finance staff training that helped progress the business. That ESF support, according to Commercial Manager, Mike Julian, has been key to the company’s growing success at helping businesses throughout the world meet their social and corporate responsibilities by using Somar products to tackle modern environmental challenges like global warming. Read more.
Queen Honours Cornish Young Mums Project

Cornwall's WILD Young Parents Project has been honoured with a prestigious Queen’s Award - the equivalent of an MBE - for its outstanding contribution to the community and its benefit to others. As a result of its achievements WILD will receive a certificate signed by the Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal. It will be presented by Her Majesty’s representative in Cornwall, the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Mary Holborow, during a special ceremony at the Redruth Children’s Centre in July. Read more.
Outstanding Results On First Anniversary Thanks To Survival Toolkit
When most business are fighting for their survival due to harsh economic conditions, Cirencester based office and household cleaning company Sweeping Beauties is bucking the trend, reporting boom time sales and plans for expansion thanks to the Survival Toolkit offer provided by GWE Business West funded by the European Social Fund.
Read more
Proactive Employer Engagement
Engaging with employers effectively is an essential task for any
training provider as it enables them to understand the business needs and objectives of the organisation so that they can provide the right training solutions. Read more
Confidence Builds A Better Future For Young Gloucestershire
Boosting confidence and raising self esteem are the keys to unlocking the potential of many unemployed young people according to Young Gloucestershire (YG), one of the county’s leading voluntary youth work organisations. Read more
Get Sorted - an innovative idea to motivate young people
Norton Radstock College in the heart of Bath countryside is recognised as a successful further education college, but a radical re-think of approach to young adults not in education, training or education (NEETs) is setting it apart from the rest. Read more
newleaf - a new start for young people in Plymouth
A new learning programme targeting young adults in Plymouth who are currently out of work and not in education or training has proved an outstanding success. Read more
So, what are the best ways to help older workers back to work?
If you work for an ESF provider or are an ESF delivery partner then you need to know about The Age and Employment Network’s (TAEN) ESF project. Read more
Learning - the key to the future for Bristol youngsters
Bristol young people have been using Hip-Hop music, paper mache, pottery, video and a variety of other media to show why they believe it’s essential to learn. Read more
South West to benefit from Community Grants scheme
Charitable organisations throughout the South West have been bidding for more than half a million pounds worth of European money to help disadvantaged or excluded people improve their job prospects. Read more
Bids sought for new Community Grants scheme
A total of £600,000 of European money is being made available to voluntary or charitable projects throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to help disadvantaged or excluded people improve their job prospects. Read more
Training has transformed Cornish marine industry
On the job training has totally transformed the Cornish marine industry according to a Penryn-based marine engineer. Read more
Cornish Learning Manager receives national recognition
The Learning Manager of a Cornish charity has been shortlisted for a national Learning and Skills Improvement Service Star Award for his work supporting adult learning in the county.
Read more
Investment package that will make ‘people’s lives better’ is launched
A multi-million pound investment package from Europe promising better skills, jobs and lives for people in Cornwall has been launched with a special networking event for all the organisations involved. Read more
Award-winning network signs up 20 new assessors
Hot on the heels of its success at the regional finals of this year’s National Training Awards scheme, Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) has announced it will be expanding its training provision with the appointment of 20 new workplace assessors.
Read more
Learning how to spread the wordRepresentatives from education-based organisations throughout the South West got together at a special event in Exeter recently to get some tips on publicity.
Read more
Triple triumph for Cornish training body
The body behind a major revival of training opportunities for Cornwall’s marine industry has been officially recognised as one of the best in Britain.
Parklife encourages business to “go green” and save moneyBusinesses in Cheltenham will be the first to benefit from a brand new initiative, launched this month, that brings together local Universities, Colleges and Businesses to help employers manage their resources more efficiently and save money on their
bottom line.
Read more
Previous news items are available in the
News Archive