The catalyst for partnership in learning and skills

Pro-fund: European and External Funding Support Services

Welcome to Pro-fund – the Gateway to External Funding

Pro-fund was established by EMFEC to assist members and associates as they research, access and deliver externally funded projects. Pro-fund is unique in this sector due to a number of key factors:

It is embedded wholly into EMFEC and thus draws from the huge pool of experience and sector knowledge held by the EMFEC team.
It is managed by a team of well qualified and experienced project managers with specialisations including the Learning and Skills Sector, International Consortium Management and Finance and Funding.
It is pro-active, aiming to bring useful and practical tools and opportunities to its membership.

Pro-fund’s mission statement is as follows:

Partnerships and Consortia

Pro-fund will establish and manage relevant working partnerships with key international, national and regional bodies to support the development and delivery of external funding programmes.

Funding and Projects

Pro-fund will communicate strategic funding opportunities to members, whilst offering technical assistance via a range of courses, master-classes and workshops.

Networking and Dissemination

Pro-fund will provide a membership and/or networking service for the Learning and Skills Sector in the region, and will engage with the key funding agencies, including the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Regional Development Agency (RDA), Jobcentre Plus, to provide intelligence on external funding.

Customised Support Network

Pro-fund will develop a service offering one to one assistance to members via a support network ranging from tender preparation to EU audits.

That is our Mission Statement, but how do FE Institutions benefit from being members of Pro-fund?

Pro-fund will:

Communicate regularly with members to research, consolidate and review their requirements for external funding.
Research current and future opportunities across EU, UK and regional funding streams, including tenders, grants and contracts.
Act as a co-ordinator to members when developing, writing and submitting bids as a consortium.
Provide technical assistance to members during the bidding, management and post-project phases.
Market and host a range of courses, workshops, and master-classes plus review days where members and non-members can access expertise and discuss problem areas.
Offer assistance at crucial times during the project cycle including bidding, contract negotiation, re-profiling, audit and inspection, and final claims.
Maintain working relationships with the Co-financing Organisations (CFOs) as well as EU bodies, Central Government and Regional/Local Government agencies.
Offer free places on some of our EU funding workshops or general courses.
Give substantial discounts on attendance at any other courses in the series.
Provide one-to-one technical assistance on bid writing for any external funding application.
Provide opportunities once per quarter to network with fellow EMFEC members, as well as invited guests from the world of external funding.
Publish monthly e-newsletters highlighting topical issues, policy shifts and helpful pointers on relevant project matters.
Publish “Breaking News” e-shots if a call is launched or an opportunity arises that would be relevant to members. We aim to get the information to members as soon as an announcement is made by the Secretariats in Brussels.