ERT brings experts together in Madrid, to intensify work on reskilling in Europe

This week, Madrid plays host to an important meeting of experts in reskilling – with representations of companies and organisations involved in the Reskilling 4 Employment (R4E) programme gathering for a meeting facilitated by Telefónica at the global Innovation and Talent Hub at its headquarters.

Why Reskilling?
As Europe comes to terms with the digital & green transitions and current events underline the need for accelerated step-change, the technological transition required demands a shift in human resources and industrial skills.

With inclusion a touchstone of European values, people will require reskilling for new occupations as their current jobs disappear due to automation and as new types of jobs emerge in the years ahead. The R4E programme ultimately seeks to reskill and secure new employment for up to 5 million people – between now and 2030.

Launched by Paulo Azevedo, Chairman of Sonae, at the Porto Social Summit in May 2021, R4E has been developed by the European Round Table for Industry (ERT). In doing so, the high level forum of 60 CEOs & Chairs of European companies seeks to facilitate the creation of reskilling partnerships with the goal of connecting reskilling providers, employers and jobseekers.

Scaling up & intensifying the work
R4E pilot projects are already underway in 3 EU Member States: Portugal, Spain and Sweden, working with companies led by ERT Members in tandem with local public and private entities.

The companies championing the programme in this first wave include AstraZeneca, Iberdrola, Nestlé, SAP, Sonae, Telefónica and Volvo Group.

R4E accommodates each active country with a national website – complete with translations into the national language – connecting unemployed and at-risk workers with opportunities to acquire new skills and change career path.

This week’s in-person meeting in Madrid brings together relevant experts from a number of as well as representatives from the ERT Secretariat and McKinsey & Co, lead knowledge partner of the programme.

The choice of Madrid as the location is not a coincidence, as it also officially marks the transition of José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman & CEO of Telefónica as leader of the initiative, as part of his new role as Chair of ERT’s Committee Jobs, Skills & Impact.

CT Bureau