The European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex) is launching a new project to promote upskilling and reskilling in the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) industry. The new “TCLF Skillbridge” initiative, supported by the European Commission’s department for growth (DG GROW), will focus on establishing regional skills partnerships. In the context of the EU TCLF Pact for Skills, Euratex will work together with the European Confederation of the Footwear Industry (CEC) and the Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers of the European Community (COTANCE) to support the creation of regional partnerships in the area skills.
The new SkillBridge project, within the broader framework of the EU TCLF Pact for Skills, will specifically help develop action plans with regional authorities, local TCLF industry and education providers to respond to the changing needs of the TCLF industry in the area of education and skills, explained Euratex. The project will also offer a mobility scheme for regional stakeholders from the industry and support SMEs to help them develop internal reskilling or upskilling initiatives.
TCLF SkillBridge complements the Metaskills4tclf and Aequalis4tclf projects, which were launched earlier this year. These projects share the same objective, established in the TCLF Pact for Skills, of addressing the shortage of qualified labor in the TCLF industry.
