Achievements in Cumbria linked to maximising our relationship with the European Union include activities and events, programmes and funded projects.  These have and will continue to provide Cumbria with many benefits including:

• Access and development of advanced technologies and ideas and innovation
• New jobs and new businesses
• Increases skills and knowledge and employability
• Funding
• Opportunities for benchmarking and good practice sharing
• Raised ambitions of young people
• Collaboration with key players
• Access to new markets
• Raising Cumbria’s profile in Europe
• Access to new geographical areas
• High profile regeneration projects
• Greater inclusion
• Improved policy
• Meeting low carbon targets
• Greater cultural awareness and opportunities
• Language learning

Events

See the Europe Direct Cumbria recent and forthcoming events page.

Programmes

See the Europe Direct Cumbria funding page.

Funded Projects

A selection of projects funded by these programmes are described below: 

• Structural Funds ERDF project achievements

£625 million euros have been allocated for 2007-2013 under the EU Structural Funds ‘Regional competiveness and Employment Objective’.

Over the years, a number of flagship schemes like Whitehaven Waterfront, Lillyhall, Kingmoor Park, Maryport Marina have received substantial ERDF funding.  Also, an ERDF co-financed partnership has been formed to support retrofitting of houses with insulation and Lowther Castle and gardens has received funding for renovation and funding has been agreed to support Carlisle Roman Gateway.

Currently, Cumbria is receiving ERDF for business-start up and loan schemes.  As part of this the ISUS programme helped 240 new businesses in 2010-2011 and in the financial year 2011-2012 has so far created 119 new businesses and 136 new jobs.

• European Social Fund achievements

A range of pre-employment programmes with colleges and training providers in Cumbria through the Skills Funding Agency and Department for Work and Pensions have supported people in Cumbria get back into work.

The National Offender management service provides EU co-financing to support Cumbria Probation’s “Achieve” programme aimed at assisting offenders rehabilitation into the community.

• Rural Development Programme achievements

The Local Action Groups in Cumbria Fells and Dales and Solway Border and Eden have been allocated around £8 million within the eligible rural area. To date, 287 projects have been approved, creating 234 jobs, modernising 104 farm holdings, supporting 200 forest holders, training over 4000 participants and generating over £10 million gross value added including renewable energy schemes, the Cleator Moor Youth Centre, heritage skills, flood recovery works, coppice apprenticeships, brewery expansion, farm meat cutting facilities.  A great achievement is that the Cumbrian programmes are among the best performing in the country based on delivery to date.

• INTERREG4C achievements

Cumbria County Council continue to receive funding to support policy review and performance benchmarking on encouraging a low carbon economy and diverting waste from landfill to reinforce the waste hierarchy and create waste from energy.  This has also enabled Cumbria to promote Cumbria’s low carbon projects amongst other EU partners and with the European Commission.  For the latest news, visit the waste2energy website. 

• INTERREG4B North West Europe programme

Eden Rivers Trust have received funding for their adaptive land use for flood alleviation ALFA programme where they have learn lessons in co-operation with other North West European Local Authorities and river authorities.

• Research and Innovation programmes

Cumbria has also benefited from funding to support nuclear research and other innovation through the European Commission’s Framework programmes.

• Leonardo da Vinci Programme

Through the EU’s lifelong learning programmes, professional and vocational training has been delivered and other people in the labour market have increased their skills and knowledge and disseminated this to other local partners.