Publicity for ERDF
Projects
Richard Holmes
ERDF Communications Manager
Yorkshire and Humber Programme Delivery
Team
Why is publicising ERDF important?
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The whole purpose of the European Union is that there is
solidarity between Member States
One of the important ways that it expresses this solidarity is by
providing investment funds such as ERDF
ERDF is allocated according to need with more for less well
performing regions
Awareness of the funds and the projects that are supported is
lowest in the UK of all Member States
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What do projects have to do?
IT IS NOT DIFFICULT
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Acknowledge the role of the European Union in part-financing
your project in ALL publicity undertaken
Maintain records of all publicity actions, including suitable
evidence for monitoring/audit
Keep the ERDF team at DCLG informed
If you hold the ERDF contract you are responsible for your subcontractors performance. You should make sure they
understand the requirements and you have mechanisms to
monitor their performance and address any
non-compliance
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In practice, what does this mean?
Acknowledgment on brochures/print can consist of the approved
EU logo and wording. This should be accompanied by the
European Commission’s preferred tag line “Investing in Your
Future”
This should appear prominently, the same size as other logos, and
preferably on the front cover
Investing in
Your Future
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Colour Versions Available
There are three colour versions available – you can use whichever
fits best with your design. Each should be accompanied by the
European Commission’s preferred tag line “Investing in Your
Future”
Investing in Your Future
Investing in Your Future
Investing in
Your Future
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Black Versions Available
There are three black versions available – but you can only use it
in entirely monochrome publications. Do not use colour artwork
and print black
Investing in Your Future
Investing in Your Future
Investing in
Your Future
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Where do you use the logo?
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Posters
Displays
Adverts including TV ads
Recruitment adverts and
Recruitment material (eg JDs)
for funded posts
A/V material
Reports
Forms
Certificates & awards
Promotional items
• Stationery (letterhead etc)
• Business cards for funded
posts
• Procurement documentation
including OJEU forms and
adverts
• Presentations
• Websites and web pages
• Meetings and events –
invitation, agenda, backdrop
etc
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Anything More?
BROCHURES
• Funding should also be acknowledged in the text of brochures and
other literature. For example:
“<name of project> is supported financially by the European
Union. The project has attracted £xx million of investment from the
European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s
support for local economic development through the Yorkshire and
Humber ERDF Programme 2007-13.”
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Anything More?
PRESS RELEASES
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Press releases should contain a written acknowledgment within
the text of the release as early as possible.
The written acknowledgment should contain reference to the
European Union and the European Regional Development Fund
part-financing the activity through the 2007-2013 Yorkshire and
The Humber ERDF Programme.
Liaise with the ERDF team prior to release, quotes for inclusion
can be provided
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Anything More?
PRESS RELEASES
• NOTES FOR EDITORS – not part of the release but provide
context for the journalist. Notes outlining ERDF and the Yorkshire
and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-13 should be included. Use
of Notes to Editors must be in addition to mentioning the
European Union’s role in part-financing within the story text.
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Notes for Editors
Yorkshire and The Humber ERDF Programme 2007-2013
The European Regional Development Fund Programme is managed by the Department for
Communities and Local Government on behalf of a local partnership including the National
Government, European Commission and local bodies. The programme has €583 million
from the European Regional Development Fund to invest by 2013. Further information about
the ERDF Programme in Yorkshire and The Humber, including information about the projects
that are receiving ERDF Investment, is available at www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
European Regional Development Fund
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was set up in 1975 to
stimulate economic development in less prosperous regions of the
European Union. ERDF is provided to support the European Union’s
cohesion policy that seeks to redress imbalances in development between
regions and Member States. It is used to support projects that can help
local economies address the challenges of globalisation and contribute to
delivering Europe’s 2020 strategy of smart, sustainable and inclusive
growth.
Information about the European Union’s support for regions is available at
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm
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Anything More?
Any feature, advertorial or material intended for publication should
similarly acknowledge the funding within the text
Speeches, interviews, scripts for videos etc must also acknowledge
funding within the text
Radio ads – the funding must be acknowledged within the script.
This tends to make short spot ads on radio unrealistic as the script
has to mention both the EU’s role in part financing a named project
and the European Regional Development Fund.
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Posters for revenue projects
• A “poster” acknowledging the EU’s role in funding the project
should be displayed where project activity is “delivered” and can
be seen by visitors/clients
• The poster should contain the name and type of the “operation” as
well as the standard acknowledgment and the Commission’s
preferred tag line “Investing in Your Future”
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For Example
Enterprise Clubs
an enterprise support
project is part funded by
the European Union
through the Yorkshire
and Humber ERDF
Programme 2007-13
Another
LOGO
Investing in Your Future
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Capital Projects
• Special rules apply to capital projects (buildings, sites, infrastructure
and equipment)
• A billboard must be erected at the start of construction with 25% of
total area dedicated to EU acknowledgment and the EU tag Line
“Investing in Your Future”
• Billboard should also include name and type of project.
• The size of the billboard should be in scale with the project and
located where the opportunities for the public to see it are maximised
• A commemorative plaque including the name and type of the
“operation” should replace the billboard within six months of practical
completion.
• If the project consists of several buildings on a business park, each
building should have a plaque as well a general plaque for the park at
the entrance.
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Examples
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Capital Projects
ERDF funded capital equipment should also carry a permanent
acknowledgment such as a plaque or permanent sticker as
appropriate.
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Monitoring and Audit
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ALL projects drawing ERDF have a responsibility to publicise
their activity and acknowledge the funding
Publicity actions and spend have to be reported in claims
Performance is monitored and is reported to the Commission
annually. All projects are asked to provide a report to be
included in the programme’s Annual Implementation Report.
All levels of audit look at publicity compliance – it is easy to
spot!
Non-compliance can lead to expenditure being declared
ineligible. A flat-rate correction (a percentage of ERDF
committed to the project) can be withdrawn from the project for
poor performance.
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How long do we have to acknowledge
ERDF for?
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Infrastructure/capital projects – for economic life of the asset
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For revenue projects – for the life of the project (until end of
contract – after completion of final audit)
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Where to go for help
ERDF Publicity Guidance is available on our website at
www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
For ERDF logos and advice contact me at
richard.holmes@communities.gsi.gov.uk
or call 0303 444 6621 or 07870 525950
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