UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)

What is UKSPF?

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK Government’s ambitious Levelling Up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK. All areas of the UK receive an allocation from the Fund via a funding formula rather than a competition. It will help places right across the country deliver enhanced outcomes and recognises that even the most affluent parts of the UK contain pockets of deprivation and need support.

UKSPF forms part of a suite of complementary levelling up funding. It must complement and not duplicate other resources e.g. Adult Education Budget, European Structural Investment Funds (remaining delivery) Levelling Up Fund, Town Deals, Future High Street Fund, Community Renewal etc.

What does it mean for the Tees Valley?

UKSPF evidence base can be found here

If you have any questions, please contact UKSPFenquiries@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk

UKSPF FORWARD PLAN

The Tees Valley UKSPF Forward Plan is now available to view here. This contains details of the themes, proposed route to market and allocation. Please note that this is a live document and is therefore subject to change.

Multiply Programme Update – November 2022

The Combined Authority is pleased to announce that following the recent procurement of the Multiply Programme, 9 providers have been awarded a contract to deliver the against the interventions aimed at providing:

• New intensive and flexible numeracy courses targeted at people without Level 2 maths, leading to a Functional Skills Qualification

 Skills Providers will develop and test new models of face-to-face delivery for new and intensive numeracy courses.  The courses will be flexible (e.g. evening/weekends, in the workplace/in the community) and intensive (up to 60GLH).

The intention is that they will be pre-cursor to a FSQ and will enable the learner to seamlessly progress into a FSQ course at level 1 and/or level 2.

Courses will be targeted at those adults (unemployed) / employed) who, through initial and diagnostic assessment, require this additional intensive support to be able to progress to a FSQ.

These courses will also test and trial courses with employers for those employees that are identified as having skills gaps and/or facing financial hardship i.e. in work poverty.

In addition to the above, the Combined Authority can also confirm that Hartlepool Borough Council has been awarded the contract to deliver the Community Led element of the UKSPF Multiply Programme, working primarily with the Community and Voluntary Sector Organisations as well as other Local Authority’s and Providers across the Tees Valley.

If you or know of an organisation that is interested in working with Hartlepool Borough Council to ensure the successful delivery of these activities, then please contact Scott Campbell.