The European Social Fund (ESF) has committed a funding package of £720 million to go towards developing jobs and skills across the UK over the next seven years.

Some £138 million has been set aside specifically for Merseyside in recognition of its transitional status, while the total commitment for the North West stands at some £222 million.

Developing a skills framework for some of the UK’s most underprivileged people is central to the scheme, which will focus specifically on those facing the biggest barriers to entering the workforce including the disabled and those living in poverty.

Commenting on the funding package, James Plaskitt MP said that redesigned recruitment systems and the development of a new type of skills framework would enable local authorities to expand access to work.

"Across England, over the next seven years the ESF programme will help 200,000 people into jobs, and enable at least 140,000 of the most disadvantaged people make positive progress toward the labour market," he said.

"It will help 80,000 disadvantaged young people into learning or a job."

The European Social Fund (ESF) was set up with the intention of improving employment opportunities in the European Union and raising standards of living.

More skills framework information