Economic Challenge Investment Fund Projects

• individuals - to enable those who are either unemployed or under the threat of unemployment to access training, development and other support to help them continue in their current employment or find new employment
• businesses, particularly SMEs and third-sector organisations such as voluntary and charity organisations - to provide professional knowledge and expertise to help equip them to survive in economic recessionary period.

In the North West, nine universities have been successful in securing funding from the £27.6 million national funding pot. Together, the projects bring nearly £3 million into the region and account for 11% of the total funding available. Projects will deliver short-term support between April 2009 and September 2010. Projects include summer schools, graduate placements, employability skills workshops, CPD modules, start-up support and enterprise training. Details of successful bids in the North West can be viewed in the link as follows: ECIF Table of Proposals & Outputs (xls)