More than two million people in the UK seeking to improve their skills and job prospects have been helped by the European Social Fund (ESF), work and pensions Minister James Plaskitt has revealed.
The minister told the ESF Conference, held as part of the UK presidency of the EU, that the fund had supported a range of life-changing projects – many of which are helping people go on to find a job.
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Plaskitt said: “Since 2000, ESF has helped 2.2 million people in the UK. More people now have basic skills and qualifications, and more people are moving towards employment or are in jobs. We believe that work is the best route out of poverty and dependence.”
The ESF is designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union.
