European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is one of the European Union’s Structural Funds which is used to tackle regional disparities across Europe. ERDF helps to stimulate economic development and growth; it provides support to businesses, encourages innovation and supports regeneration.
The London Economic Action Partnership has submitted a strategy to Government which sets out its key goals for investment:
- Skills and Employment
- Enhancing the competitiveness of London’s small and medium sized enterprises
- Strengthening science & technological development and fostering innovation
- Investing in London’s Infrastructure
Operational programme
The England Operational Programme document describes the types of activities that can be funded by ERDF, including in London. It is available on gov.uk. It includes the national outputs targets that shall be achieved. London’s share of the targets are listed in the attached document.
London’s share of the England programme is awarded by Government in Euros (converted to Sterling using a 0.9033 exchange rate in August 2018):
Priority Axis 1 £30,793,518
Priority Axis 2 £2,686,640
Priority Axis 3 £85,005,532
Priority Axis 4 £65,793,546
Total £184,279,237
Grant-funded projects
The latest set of calls has now closed.
Click here to see the projects which have received a grant funding agreement and are now live.
Financial Instruments
£75m was ring-fenced for two new funds that will build on the successes of the 2007-13 London Green Fund and London SME Fund.
Mayor of London's Energy Efficiency Fund
The GLA has procured a Fund Manager, Amber Infrastructure Limited, to manage a new fund, called Mayor of London's Energy Efficiency Fund (MEEF). The GLA has committed £43m ERDF to MEEF and Amber Infrastructure Limited has successfully secured £456m from private investors to make MEEF (almost) a £500m fund. Additionally, the European Investment Bank (EIB) will consider, on a case by case basis, providing finance to projects supported by MEEF, up to total value of £100m.
The MEEF will provide loan and equity finance for projects that involve:
— Building retrofit and energy efficiency measures in public, commercial and residential properties;
— Production and distribution of low carbon heat, including combined heat and power, tri-generation and communal/district heating generation and/or networks; and
— Small scale renewable energy generation.
The MEEF was launched on 9 July 2018 by the Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues. It is now open for business and more information, including how to apply, can be found at www.meef.co.uk.
Greater London Investment Fund
The £100m Greater London Investment Fund has been developed specifically to target businesses which have had difficulties in securing crucial investment. The GLIF consists of three sub-funds that invest loan and equity finance in SMEs operating in sectors that are important in enhancing London's competitiveness, including the emerging circular economy. The funding comes from a number of sources: £35m from ERDF and £50m from the EIB; £7 million from the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) and £11 million in returns from previous investments made through Funding London (on behalf of the Mayor).
Funding London was appointed as the GLIF manager and the Fund is administered by fund managers MMC Ventures Limited and The FSE Group and allocated through three sub-funds:
- Venture Fund: £45 million (investment from £100,000 to £2 million) (MMC Ventures Limited)
- Small loans: £27.5 million (£100,000 to £500,000) (The FSE Group)
- Large loans: £27.5 million (£500,000 to £1.5 million) (The FSE Group)
The GLIF was launched on 30 May 2019 by the Mayor of London and small businesses can now apply by contacting either of the independent fund managers – MMC Ventures and The FSE Group – directly.