EUROPEAN funding of £3.5m is to be invested in learning and skills development across England's largest county.

The money has been allocated to North Yorkshire by the European Social Fund and will be managed by the county's Learning and Skills Council.

The search is now on for organisations to help deliver seven major projects aimed at developing the skills and employment potential of people in the area.

Adverts have gone out to invite suitable organisations to tender for the contracts for the programme.

The main projects include helping people back into learning and work, improving access and increasing participation in learning, developing skills, and information, advice and guidance.

Also listed are support for training and employment in cultural, heritage and land-based industries.

There will also be projects to develop learning opportunities for rural areas, and open up learning and work opportunities for people recovering from mental health difficulties.

The European funding manager for the North Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council, Helen Howland, said there had already been a lot of interest in the projects and they were confident that there would be some excellent proposals.

She said: "This European money represents a significant opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives in York and North Yorkshire, through the creation of targeted learning and skills opportunities in identified areas of need.

"The Learning and Skills Council has carried out detailed research into where the gaps are and what needs to be done to fill them.

"We have developed these seven major project areas in response to the evidence we have gathered.

"Now we need to find the right people to turn our vision into reality.

"We expect to start getting the tenders over the summer and we look forward to selecting the organisations or groups of organisations which offer the best combination of ideas and experience to maximise the benefits of this major investment into skills in our area.