UK Shared Prosperity Fund
Denbighshire County Council welcomes the UK Government’s announcement that the North Wales Regional Investment plan for the Shared Prosperity Fund has been approved. We look forward to opening the application process once we receive formal notice of the funding decision and grant agreement.
The first call for UKSPF projects closed on 24 February 2023.
The Regional Investment Plan was submitted to the UK Government on 1 August 2022, since when the six local authorities in North Wales have been working hard to make preparations for managing the fund (including recruiting teams to manage the fund, designing the application forms and the application process) on the assumption that the Plan would be accepted. It should be noted, however, that details of how the Shared Prosperity Fund will be provided have remained uncertain. Consequently, Denbighshire County Council – in line with its neighbouring North Wales local authorities – will only be able to progress applications once the required details have been received and considered.
The following information will be of interest to potential applicants (and is consistent across North Wales):
- We are committed to the principle of local decision making
- North Wales is seeking to have a 2-stage process so applicants can get an early sense of whether their proposal is likely to be supported
- We will publish a short document summarising the process and the region and local areas’ priorities for investment
- Flexibility will be built in, to facilitate projects looking to deliver in one Local Authority (LA), every LA in North Wales, or a combination of LAs
- The default approach to delivery will be via competitive grants, but we may consider commissioning / procurement if lack of interest within a Priority Investment (also retaining the potential for direct delivery in 2022 / 2023 due to time pressure)
- We anticipate that UKSPF applications will be generally be larger in scale (i.e. with a value of over £250k). All local areas are looking to establish intermediary funds to support smaller projects by communities and businesses
- We will need to commit funds early in the programme (within the first six months) as time for delivery is short (by March 2025)
- Current advice for potential applicants is to not simply wait for the systems and structures to be in place. Groundwork can be done now, and there is nothing to preclude starting to engage with partners / stakeholders about potential activities to ensure they are well developed and have broad support when the time comes
- All potential applicants are encouraged to review the Interventions that Denbighshire has prioritised (due to alignment with local strategic objectives), along with their associated Outputs and Outcomes, and the level of capital and revenue monies available each year. These Interventions have come direct from the UK Government, and Denbighshire has clustered them thematically:
Prosperous: Town Centre Improvements & Tourism
Prosperous: Town Centre Improvements & Tourism
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three for town centre improvements and tourism
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£206,400 |
£48,000 |
| Year 3 |
£528,000 |
£768,000 |
Interventions
- W1: Funding for improvements to town centres and high streets, including better accessibility for disabled people, including capital spend and running costs
- W4: Enhanced support for existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions that make up the local cultural and heritage offer, including improvements to access to sites to counter the effects of isolation, particularly for older people and disabled people.
- W8: Funding for the development and promotion of wider campaigns and year-round experiences which encourage people to visit and explore the local area.
- W14: Funding to support relevant feasibility studies.
- W16: Investment in open markets and improvements to town centre retail and service sector infrastructure, with wrap around support for small businesses.
- W17: Funding for the development and promotion (both trade and consumer) of the visitor economy, such as local attractions, trails, tours and tourism products more generally.
Outputs
Outputs for town centre improvements and tourism
| Outputs |
Target |
| Amount of public realm created or improved (m2) (W1) |
2,120 |
| Number of Tourism, Culture or Heritage assets created or improved (numerical value) (W4) |
10 |
| Number of events/ participatory programmes (numerical value) (W4) |
12 |
| Number of people reached (W8) |
50,000 |
| Number of feasibility studies supported (numerical value) (W14) |
12 |
| Number of local markets supported (numerical value) (W16) |
1 |
| Number of businesses receiving financial support other than grants (numerical value) (W16) |
5 |
| Number of businesses receiving non-financial support (numerical value) (W17) |
200 |
| Number of local events or activities supported (numerical value) (W17) |
100 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for town centre improvements and tourism
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Increased footfall (% increase) (W1, W8, W16) |
25 |
| Increased visitor numbers (% increase) (W1, W8) |
20 |
| Improved perceived/experienced accessibility (% increase) (W1) |
70 |
| Improved perceptions of facilities/ amenities (% increase) (W1) |
70 |
| Increased number of projects arising from funded feasibility studies (% increase) (W14) |
30 |
| Jobs created (numerical value) (W16 ) |
15 |
| Number of new businesses created (numerical value) (W16) |
10 |
Prosperous: Business Support Across the County
Prosperous: Business Support Across the County
A proposal for the delivery of a grant scheme under this theme, to support smaller projects (under £250k) by communities and businesses is being taken to Cabinet in mid-February 2023. Subject to approval, further details on how to apply for these funds will be shared soon after.
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three for business support across the county
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£48,000 |
£628,984 |
| Year 3 |
£480,000 |
£816,000 |
Interventions
- W23: Strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems, and supporting businesses at all stages of their development to start, sustain, grow and innovate, including through local networks.
- W24: Funding for new and improvements to existing training hubs, business support offers, ‘incubators’ and ‘accelerators’ for local enterprise (including social enterprise) which can support entrepreneurs and start-ups through the early stages of development and growth by offering a combination of services including account management, advice, resources, training, coaching, mentorship and access to workspace.
- W26: Support for growing the local social economy, including community businesses, cooperatives and social enterprises.
- W30: Business support measures to drive employment growth, particularly in areas of higher unemployment.
Outputs
Outputs for business support across the county
| Outputs |
Target |
| Number of businesses receiving financial support other than grants (numerical value) (W23, W24) |
175 |
| Number of businesses receiving grants (numerical value) (W23, W29, W30) |
150 |
| Number of potential entrepreneurs provided assistance to be business ready (numerical value) (W23, W24) |
100 |
| Number of businesses receiving non-financial support (numerical value) (W26) |
100 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for business support across the county
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Jobs created (numerical value) (W23, W30) |
50 |
| Jobs safeguarded (numerical value) (W23) |
25 |
| Number of businesses created (numerical value) (W23) |
25 |
| Number of businesses introducing new products to the firm (numerical value) (W23) |
10 |
| Number of businesses adopting new to the firm technologies or processes (numerical value) (W23) |
15 |
Healthier, Happier, Caring: Community Capacity Building
Healthier, Happier, Caring: Community Capacity Building
A proposal for the delivery of a grant scheme under this theme, to support smaller projects (under £250k) by communities and businesses is being taken to Cabinet in mid-February 2023. Subject to approval, further details on how to apply for these funds will be shared soon after.
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three for community capacity building
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£259,200 |
£48,000 |
| Year 3 |
£432,000 |
£1,079,524 |
Interventions
- W9: Funding for impactful volunteering and/or social action projects to develop social and human capital in local places.
- W11: Investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for local civil society and community groups.
- W12: Investment in community engagement schemes to support community involvement in decision making in local regeneration.
Outputs
Outputs for community capacity building
| Outputs |
Target |
| Number of organisation receiving non-financial support (numerical value) (W9, W11, W12) |
316 |
| Number of local events or activities supported (numerical value) (W9, W12) |
838 |
| Number of volunteering opportunities supported (numerical value) (W9, W12) |
690 |
| Number of projects (numerical value) (W9) |
75 |
| Number of facilities supported/ created (numerical value) (W11) |
10 |
| Number of people attending training sessions (numerical value) (W11) |
125 |
| Number of organisations receiving financial support other than grants (numerical value) (W12) |
30 |
| Number of organisations receiving grants (numerical value) (W12) |
57 |
| Number of people reached (numerical value) (W12) |
600 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for community capacity building
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Improved engagement number (% increase) (W9, W11, W12) |
45 |
| Volunteering numbers as a result of support (numerical value) (W9) |
825 |
| Number of new or improved community facilities as a result of support (W11) |
35 |
Culture & Welsh Language: Culture, Sports & Creativity
Culture & Welsh Language: Culture, Sports & Creativity
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three culture, sports and creativity
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£91,200 |
£24,000 |
| Year 3 |
£288,000 |
£576,000 |
Interventions
- W6: Support for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities.
- W10: Funding for local sports facilities, tournaments, teams and leagues; to bring people together.
Outputs
Outputs for culture, sports and creativity
| Outputs |
Target |
| Number of organisations receiving financial support other than grants (numerical value) (W6) |
6 |
| Number of organisations receiving grants (numerical value) (W6) |
10 |
| Number of organisation receiving non-financial support (numerical value) (W6) |
6 |
| Number of local events or activities supported (numerical value) (W6) |
80 |
| Number of volunteering opportunities supported (numerical value) (W6) |
65 |
| Number of facilities supported/ created (numerical value) (W10) |
1 |
| Levels of participation in sports and recreational activities at facilities that have benefitted from funding (based on registered player/teams) (% increase) (W10) |
165 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for culture, sports and creativity
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Jobs created (numerical value) (W6) |
51 |
| Jobs safeguarded (numerical value) (W6) |
20 |
| Increased footfall (% increase) (W6) |
10 |
| Increased visitor number (% increase) (W6) |
10 |
| Improved perception of facilities/ amenities (% increase) (W6) |
50 |
| Improved engagement numbers (% increase) (W6) |
25 |
| Number of community-led arts, cultural, heritage and creative programmes as a result of support (numerical value) (W6) |
1,605 |
| Improved perception of events (% increase) (W6) |
50 |
| Increased users of facilities/ amenities (% increase) (W10) |
10 |
Better Connected: Digital Inclusion
Better Connected: Digital Inclusion
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three for digital inclusion
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£0 |
£230,400 |
| Year 3 |
£0 |
£280,320 |
Interventions
- W37: Interventions to increase levels of digital inclusion, with a focus on essential digital skills, communicating the benefits of getting (safely) online, and in-community support to provide users with the confidence and trust to stay online.
- W42: Funding to support local digital skills.
Outputs
Outputs for digital inclusion
| Outputs |
Target |
| Number of people supported to access basic skills (numerical value) (W37) |
60 |
| Number of people supported to engage in life skills (numerical value) (W37, W42) |
790 |
| Number of people supported to gain a qualification or complete a course (numerical value) (W37, W42) |
240 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for digital inclusion
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Number of people gaining a qualification or completing a course following support (numerical value) (W37, W42) |
270 |
| Number of people engaged in life skills support following interventions (numerical value) (W42) |
550 |
Fairer, Safe & More Equal: Community Safety
Fairer, Safe & More Equal: Community Safety
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three for community safety
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£0 |
£0 |
| Year 3 |
£1,632,000 |
£384,000 |
Interventions
W5: Design and management of the built and landscaped environment to 'design out crime'.
Outputs
Outputs for community safety
| Outputs |
Target |
| Amount of public realm created or improved (m2) (W5) |
8,200 |
| Number of neighbourhood improvements undertaken (numerical value) (W5) |
158 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for community safety
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Increased footfall (% increase) (W5) |
10 |
| Increased use of cycleways or paths (% increase) (W5) |
10 |
| Improved perception of safety (% increase) (W5) |
20 |
| Reduction in neighbourhood crime (% decrease) (W5) |
10 |
Greener: Community Infrastructure
Greener: Community Infrastructure
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three for community infrastructure
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£216,000 |
£480,000 |
| Year 3 |
£1,656,000 |
£1,200,000 |
Interventions
- W2: Funding for new, or improvements to existing, community and neighbourhood infrastructure projects including those that increase communities’ resilience to natural hazards, such as flooding, and investment in locally owned renewable energy generation and waste management to improve the transition to low carbon living This could cover capital spend and running costs.
- W3: Creation of and improvements to local green spaces, community gardens, watercourses and embankments, along with incorporating natural features and biodiversity improvements into wider public space.
- W13: Community measures to reduce the cost of living, including through measures to improve energy efficiency, and combat fuel poverty and climate change.
- W15: Investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities.
- W29: Supporting decarbonisation and improving the natural environment whilst growing the local economy. Taking a whole systems approach to invest in infrastructure to deliver effective decarbonisation across energy, buildings and transport and beyond, in line with our legally binding climate target. Maximising existing or emerging local strengths in low carbon technologies, goods and services to take advantage of the growing global opportunity.
Outputs
Outputs for community infrastructure
| Outputs |
Target |
| Number of organisations receiving financial support other than grants (numerical value) (W2) |
4 |
| Amount of public realm created or improved (m2) (W3) |
21,000 |
| Number of neighbourhood improvements undertaken (numerical value) (W3) |
10 |
| Number of facilities supported/created (numerical value)(W3, W15) |
120 |
| Amount of green or blue space created or improved (m2) (W3) |
900 |
| Amount of new or improved cycleways or paths (m2)(W3) |
260 |
| Number of trees planted (numerical value) (W3) |
500 |
| Number of organisations receiving non-financial support (numerical value) (W15, W29) |
316 |
| Number of businesses receiving non-financial support (numerical value) (W29) |
50 |
| Number of businesses receiving grants (numerical value)(W29) |
25 |
| Amount of low or zero carbon energy infrastructure installed (m2) (W29) |
25 |
| Number of decarbonisation plans developed (numerical value) (W29) |
50 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for community infrastructure
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Jobs created (numerical value) (W2) |
2 |
| Jobs safeguarded (numerical value) (W2) |
2 |
| Greenhouse gas reductions (% decrease) (W2, W29) |
20 |
| Improved perception of facilities/amenities (% increase) (W2, W3) |
80 |
| Increased users of facilities/amenities (% increase) (W2, W3) |
1,010 |
| Improved perception of facility/infrastructure project (% increase) (W2) |
10 |
| Increased use of cycleways or paths (% increase) (W13) |
10 |
| Number of new or improved community facilities as a result of support (numerical value) (W15) |
50 |
Learning & Growing: People & Skills
Learning & Growing: People & Skills
Capital and revenue expenditure in years one, two and three for people and skills
| Year |
Capital |
Revenue |
| Year 2 |
£0 |
£2,664,000 |
| Year 3 |
£0 |
£2,833,920 |
Interventions
- W34: Employment support for economically inactive people: Intensive and wrap-around one-to-one support to move people closer to mainstream provision and to gain and retain employment, including wraparound support to people undertaking apprenticeships, supplemented by additional and/or specialist life and basic skills (digital, English, maths* and ESOL) support where there are local provision gaps. Funding for vocational training for economically inactive people, where the provision is additional to that funded via mainstream provision. This provision can include projects promoting the importance of work to help people to live healthier and more independent lives, alongside building their future financial resilience and wellbeing. expected cohorts include, but are not limited to people with multiple complex needs (homeless, care leavers, ex/ offenders, people with substance abuse problems and victims of domestic violence), people with a disability
and health
condition, people aged over 50, women, young people not in education, employment or training, and people from an ethnic minority. *via Multiply.
- W35: Courses including basic skills (digital, English, maths (via Multiply) and ESOL), and life skills and career skills** provision for people who are not economically inactive and who are unable to access other training or wrap around support detailed above. Supplemented by financial support for learners to enrol onto courses and complete qualifications. Beyond that, this intervention will also contribute to building community cohesion and facilitate greater shared civil pride, leading to better integration for those benefitting from ESOL support. **where not being met through Department for Work and Pensions or Welsh Government provision.
- W36: Activities such as enrichment and volunteering to improve opportunities and promote wellbeing.
- W38: Tailored support to help people in employment, who are not supported by mainstream provision to address barriers to accessing education and training courses. This includes supporting the retention of groups who are likely to leave the labour market early.
- W39: Support for local areas to fund local skills needs. This includes technical and vocational qualifications and courses up to level 2 and training for vocational licences relevant to local area needs and high-value qualifications where there is a need for additional skills capacity that are not being met through other provision.
- W43: Funding to support engagement and softer skills development for young people, with regard to the work of Careers Wales/Working Wales.
Outputs
Outputs for people and skills
| Outputs |
Target |
| Number of economically inactive people engaging with keyworker support services (numerical value) (W34) |
575 |
| Number of economically inactive people supported to engage with the benefits system (numerical value) (W34) |
100 |
| Number of socially excluded people accessing support (numerical value) (W34) |
600 |
| Number of people supported to access basic skills (numerical value) (W34, W43) |
1,130 |
| Number of people accessing mental and physical health support leading to employment (numerical value) (W34) |
260 |
| Number of people supported to engage in job-searching (numerical value) (W34) |
400 |
| Number of people receiving support to gain employment (numerical value) (W34) |
295 |
| Number of people receiving support to sustain employment (numerical value) (W34) |
100 |
| Effective working between keyworkers and additional services (number of engagements) (W34) |
315 |
| Number of people supported to gain a qualification or complete a course (numerical value) (W34, W35, W38, W39, W43) |
970 |
| Number of people supported to engage in life skills (numerical value) (W35, W43) |
1,890 |
| Number of people supported onto a course through providing financial support (numerical value) (W35) |
275 |
| Number of people supported to participate in education (numerical value) (W36) |
890 |
| Number of volunteering opportunities supported (numerical value) (W36) |
240 |
| Number of people taking part in work experience programmes (numerical value)(W36) |
345 |
| Number of people retraining (numerical value) (W36) |
80 |
| Number of people in employment engaging with the skills system (numerical value) (W38) |
80 |
| Number of people receiving support to gain a vocational licence (numerical value) (W38, W39) |
130 |
Outcomes
Outcomes for people and skills
| Outcomes |
Target |
| Number of economically inactive individuals in receipt of benefits they are entitled to following support (numerical value) (W34) |
75 |
| Number of active or sustained participants in community groups as a result of support (numerical value) (W34) |
490 |
| Number of people reporting increased employability through development of interpersonal skills funded by UKSPF (numerical value) (W34) |
475 |
| Number of people with basic skills (English, maths, digital and ESOL) (numerical value) (W34) |
140 |
| Number of people in supported employment (numerical value) (W34) |
20 |
| Number of people sustaining engagement with keyworker support and additional services (numerical value)(W34) |
320 |
| Number of people engaged in job-searching following support (numerical value)(W34) |
360 |
| Number of people in employment, including self-employment, following support (numerical value) (W34, W35, W36) |
450 |
| Number of people sustaining employment for 6 months (numerical value) (W34) |
90 |
| Number of people in education/training (numerical value) (W35, W36, W39) |
930 |
| Number of people experiencing reduced structural barriers into employment and into skills provision (numerical value) (W35, W36) |
1,230 |
| Number of people familiarised with employers’ expectations, including, standards of behaviour in the workplace (W36) |
595 |
| Number of people gaining qualifications, licences and skills (numerical value) (W38) |
60 |
| Number of economically active individuals engaged in mainstream skills education and training (numerical value) (W39) |
100 |
| Increased number of people gaining qualifications, licences and skills (% increase) (W43) |
1,058 |
| Increased number of people engaged in life skills support following interventions (% increase) (W43) |
552 |
Updates
October 2022 update
October 2022 update
Following the submission of the Regional Investment Plan in August 2022, Denbighshire along with the other five North Wales authorities is awaiting feedback from the UK Government. We are working with colleagues across the region to develop the application process and hope to begin to invite applications later in the year.
Meanwhile, if you have any queries please email sharedprosperityfund@denbighshire.gov.uk
August 2022 update
August 2022 update
Thank you to all partners who fed into the development of the Denbighshire element of the Regional Investment Plan for Shared Prosperity Funding.
North Wales Local Authorities worked together in a staged approach to pull together a regional plan for submission on 1 August. This was at a very high level and designed to simply unlock the allocations for each Local Authority. Gwynedd Council is leading on the North Wales Plan on behalf of the six authorities.
The main focus of the Regional Investment Plan did not go further than selection of "interventions". The interventions spread across the 3 pillars (People & Skills, Supporting Local Business, and Communities & Place) effectively describe the scope of eligible activity.
Through stakeholder engagement, we were able to determine that there is enough need/interest in Denbighshire to include 29 interventions in our thinking, and this is reflected in the drafting of the Regional Plan
Denbighshire, like the other Local Authorities in the region, has not asked for formal funding requests or Expressions of Interests at this time (as they have done in other parts of Wales) but have welcomed feedback on the types of local activity that align with the UK Govt Interventions.
Ideas would ultimately need to demonstrate how they can deliver the outputs and outcomes required in Denbighshire (and show strategic alignment with documents such as the Council's Corporate Plan). They will be shared with an Advisory Partnership Board, membership of which is mandated by UK Govt, who will make recommendations to the Council for investment. The Governance process for this is in development, and we will update this page and share more information once this is developed.
Meanwhile, if you have any queries please email sharedprosperityfund@denbighshire.gov.uk
Background
On 13 April 2022, the UK Government published more detail about how the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) will work (external website). This replaces funding which the council originally received from Europe.
Denbighshire County Council has been allocated a total of £25.6 million to invest over three years. This is broken down into £21.2 million of core funding and £4.4 million for the national 'Multiply' programme.
We now have the opportunity to accelerate our plans for the fund, and build on our emerging Corporate Plan themes. We will develop an investment plan to deliver fair employment and good work for all, and create and develop sustainable places and communities that we can be proud of.
The investment plan will be submitted to government by 1 August 2022.
The plan will take account of the three themes of the fund as set out by Government:
- Communities and place
- Local businesses
- People and skills
In developing the plan, we will be mindful of the fund's objectives set by government:
- Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards
- Spread opportunities and improve public services
- Restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging
- Empower local leaders and communities
To develop our local investment plan, we will work in partnership with councillors, MPs and local stakeholders including businesses and residents.
Wider region
The investment plan - whilst written at a Denbighshire delivery level - will also be aligned with a regional investment plan to show how we are working with neighbouring authorities - Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Flintshire and Wrexham - to share learning and best practise and identify areas for collaboration where greater benefits for residents may be delivered better across a wider geography.
