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EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
WAG: Two programmes – both supported by European Structural Funds – to help Welsh business fight the global credit crash and compete in the Internet Age have been announced by the Wales Assembly Government:
* The £10m Strategic e-Business Support Programme will provide enterprises in West Wales and the Valleys with support & guidance to improve crucial elements of their operations.
* Meanwhile the e-Crime Wales programme – available throughout Wales – will invest £2.6m in helping businesses to prevent Internet-based crime with support from the four Welsh Police Forces and key players from the financial, legal and internet security sectors.
Press release ~ Strategic e-Business Support Programme ~
WAG: The Welsh Assembly Government has announced plans to create a multimillion pound urban development fund (UDF) - the first of its kind in Europe - under the European Commission’s Jessica programme.
The fund, which could be operating by 2010, would be a joint venture with the private sector and would invest in a wide range of regeneration projects across Wales, with the WAG and its private sector partner sharing in the returns. More detailed work needs to be done on the financial structure, governance arrangements and geographic scope of the fund as well as the project selection process.
WAG: An £12.5m project aimed at tackling the difficulties women face when progressing in the workforce has been given the go-ahead for Convergence funding. Chwarae Teg’s Agile Nation project, which will receive an £8.2m boost from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government, will help women to achieve their full potential by promoting gender equality in employment and supporting career advancement. It will also contribute to a reduction of the gender pay gap that still exists in the labour market.
By assisting up to 2,800 women in West Wales and the Valleys through training and mentoring, the project aims to progress their careers and higher skilled employment opportunities. In addition, a training allowance scheme will be available for women wishing to improve their range of skills, as well as help with identifying quality part-time work.
Agile Nation will also help over 600 employers with training on equality & diversity issues, raise awareness of the benefits of flexible working, as well as promoting & educating employers around work life balance issues.
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