- UK Government approves local
spending plans for UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
- UKSPF matches and succeeds EU
funding in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and
gives local leaders greater say in how the money is spent
- Funding will turbo-charge levelling
up: supporting local businesses, boosting skills, reviving high
streets and improving local pride.
People across the country will benefit from £2.6 billion of
investment in skills, improved high streets, support for local
business and more green spaces as the UK takes back control and
approves spending plans for funding previously run by the
European Union.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund succeeds EU structural funding but
instead of Brussels deciding how and where the money is spent,
the UK Government has been working closely with local leaders in
every corner of the UK to direct funding where it is most needed.
Under the spending plans approved today, England, Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland are all receiving at least as much as they
did before, while also being free from bureaucratic EU processes
and having greater say in how the money is used.
Councils in England, Scotland and Wales have drawn up the plans
with a wide range of local partners that deliver for people in
their areas. They have chosen to spend the money on a range of
initiatives, such as supporting people into decent jobs, helping
local businesses to grow and fighting anti-social behaviour, and
can now begin to deliver these. In Northern Ireland, DLUHC is
managing the Fund and has developed a plan in close collaboration
with councils, businesses and the community and voluntary sector.
Levelling Up Minister said:
“We are taking full advantage of being outside the European Union
and unlocking billions of pounds of investment to help level up
communities and spread opportunity across the UK.
“The UK Shared Prosperity Fund will have tangible benefits for
people up and down the country, from a young entrepreneur in need
of a helping hand or those who want to gain the skills they need
to secure a decent, well-paid job.
“The UK government has worked closely with local leaders across
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, giving them a
greater say in how this money is spent and ensuring funding is
directed to where it is most needed.”
Across the UK, the money will be spent on levelling up in three
key areas:
-
Communities and place: projects could include
improving parks and green spaces, sports facilities and access
to arts and culture to foster a greater sense of pride in
place.
-
Supporting local business: this include
support for entrepreneurs, as well as research and development
grants for local businesses to help develop innovative products
and services.
-
People and skills: projects could include
specialist support for people with a health condition facing
additional barriers into decent jobs. This may include basic
life skills, digital training and education in English and
maths. As part of the Fund, a multi-million pound adult
numeracy programme, Multiply, has been allocated across the UK
to support people with no or low-level maths skills to improve
their economic and life prospects.
The UK Government's flexible approach also means that councils
and local partners will have the opportunity to adapt each plan
to reflect new economic priorities over the period to 2025.
Today, the UK Government is publishing the UKSPF Investment Plan
for Northern Ireland, which set outs how the fund will be
delivered. This has been designed to improve pride in place,
increase life chances and support growth by investing in key
priorities for Northern Ireland.
Funding for the UKSPF will be £2.6 billion between 2022 and 2025,
with this figure reaching £1.5 billion per year by March 2025,
delivering on the UK Government’s commitment to match EU
structural funds for each nation.
Local areas across England will see £1.58 billion, Scotland £212
million, Wales £585 million and Northern Ireland £127 million
made available under the fund.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
