WIREDGOV

The London Development Agency (LDA) today announced a £23m programme of combined LDA and European Social Fund (ESF) funding to support those who are unemployed or need to improve their skills to compete in an ever tougher job market.

In line with the Mayor’s policy to help Londoners to survive the economic downturn, the ESF co-financing programme will fund a range of activities including job search, careers advice, basic skills and in-work support to help Londoners get back into the labour market and develop the skills needed by London’s employers. The programme aims to ensure that people are supported into sustainable employment.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

"The European Social Fund has real potential to help Londoners improve their skills and employment opportunities, and with rising unemployment, the latest funding programme comes at an important time.

"I'm delighted to see the LDA, under new leadership this year, help cut through the bureaucracy and red tape and make it easier for people to access funding and improve their skills so they can secure a job."

London Development Agency Chief Executive Peter Rogers said:

"The London Development Agency understands that many Londoners face major challenges, particularly in the current economic downturn. We are increasing our efforts to help London’s businesses survive and to help Londoners get and keep a job. We will be using the £23 million European Social Fund co-financing programme to work with employers and help Londoners improve their skills so they are better able to compete for jobs."

The ESF co-financing programme will fund the roll out of the LDA’s Personal Best scheme to all London Boroughs. Personal Best is one of the LDA’s flagship projects and helps the long term unemployed get back into work through skills gained from volunteering in the run up to the 2012 Games.

A range of other projects will be delivered through the programme including outreach and engagement projects where community based organisations will work with those disengaged from the labour market and support them to progress into training and employment. Skills for Life Projects include basic skills training in areas such as numeracy and literacy and the development of workplace skills and Employer Led Training projects work with identified employers to deliver the training they need for their new recruits.

For media enquiries, please contact Katy Atkins at the LDA Media Team on 020 7593 8386; for public enquiries, please call 020 7593 9000; for out of hours media enquiries, please call 07977 439 371.

Notes to Editors

The London Development Agency aims to improve the quality of life for all Londoners - working to create jobs, develop skills and promote economic growth.

A series of support workshops will also take place in early December at venues across London to help guide applicants through the process. Organisations interested in applying for funding to deliver projects that form part of the LDA/ESF programme should visit http://www.lda.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.2918 for more information. To apply for funding organisations need to apply online on the CompeteFor website – https://www.competefor.com/london2012business/login.jsp