The European Commission has agreed proposals to an investment programme which will see £2bn being spent on UK jobs and skills within the next seven years.

The new European Social Fund (ESF) programme for England will run from 2007 to 2013 and will benefit all regions of the country.

The monies will fund a range of activities such as job search advice and support, confidence building, basic skills and vocational qualifications.

Specific target groups of the fund include disabled people, lone parents, older workers, ethnic minorities and young people not in education.

Mike O’Brien, work and pensions minister, said: “The new European Social Fund programme will support our aim to achieve full employment.

“By tackling barriers to work and improving skills, ESF projects will help more people realise their potential. They will male a valuable contribution to our policies to build on record levels of employment by extending opportunities even further.”