James Plaskitt, Minister for the European Social Fund (ESF), and Liam Byrne, Regional Minister for the West Midlands, have welcomed the roll-out of new European Social Fund projects in the West Midlands.

The new projects, starting this spring and summer, will help 220,000 people in the region improve their job prospects and are the first to be supported by the 2007-2013 ESF programme which is investing £246 million of ESF money in the West Midlands

To mark the roll out, James Plaskitt visited the Sustained Employment through Learning (SEtL) project in Leamington Spa. The project is run by Warwickshire County Council and receives its ESF funding via the LSC.

During the visit James Plaskitt said: "I warmly welcome the start of the new ESF projects. They will target people who need that extra help to gain skills, find jobs and succeed at work. Our priority is to support those who, despite record employment levels, remain out of work, including people on incapacity benefits. 

"Many of the projects will provide integrated employment and skills support - like the Sustained Employment through Learning project which I am visiting today. They will give people new life-changing opportunities."

During his visit to the project, James Plaskitt met staff and participants, including individuals who have benefited from previous ESF projects.

Liam Byrne also welcomed the new projects: "We have to unlock the potential of everyone in the West Midlands. Skills are the key to our jobs and better wages here in the West Midlands. In March I set out our plan for a skills revolution. This European money is going to help pay the bill for basic skills and apprenticeships for your people and adults alike'.

James Plaskitt was accompanied by David Cragg and Mark Maffey, Head of Skills Delivery Group at Warwickshire County Council.

David Cragg said: "The West Midlands has an excellent track record of partnership working on ESF. The additional European investment has been used right across the region to enhance many key initiatives to improve skills and job opportunities, especially in deprived communities.

"The West Midlands is the only region in the country where all the strategic local authorities and the LSC have come together to deliver the new ESF programme.

"It is particularly gratifying to witness the formation of such an exciting and innovative single partnership with the capacity to deliver a programme that will fully integrate ESF with neighbourhood regeneration and make a lasting difference to those communities."

Coun Chris Saint, portfolio holder for economic development with Warwickshire County Council, said: "We have been delighted with the contribution of the Learning Skills Council in enabling us to establish the SEtL.

"The work of the project has been outstanding in ensuring that members of the community have every opportunity to contribute to the growth of the local economy, avoiding the risk of becoming excluded."