For the implementation of these training projects, CEFORA is collaborating with a network of specialised partners: from educational institutions and professional trainers with broad business experience to organisations that offer services in the area of project administration and project coordination. This networking therefore makes it possible for CEFORA to provide services that combine quality, flexibility, reaction speed, and professional know-how.
The service package offered by CEFORA consists of the following:
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[ B ] Campaign to elevate the activity factor
CEFORA assists enterprises to reclassify and/or maintain the work experience level of older employees (+ 45 years of age) by means of adapted training courses, and also promotes the recruitment of older jobseekers.
In addition, a competence-screening session in function of offering subsequent training advice is available to this target group (called “check-up 45+”). All employers within the CPNAE can have their 45-year old or older employees screened by CEFORA at no charge. Likewise, 45-year old or older jobseekers that are already part of a recruitment procedure can, prior to their entering employment, participate in this screening, and this also free of charge. Subsequently, CEFORA will offer training advice while, in consultation with the employee in question, a training programme will be worked out to ensure that older employees remain ‘up-to-date’ and retain complete employability.
Likewise, recently dismissed white-collar employees will find CEFORA helpful in providing lay-off assistance and guidance during their period of unemployment. Employees 45 years old and older will receive lay-off assistance for a maximum of one year, while employees of 35 years to 45 years of age can participate in a shortened programme called ‘Ready for a New Start’. This age limitation is not in effect in cases of collective lay-offs or plant closings. Specialists help participants in their search for a new suitable job and will offer training advice.
[ C ] Solving the problem of hard-to-fill jobs
CEFORA attempts to assist enterprises in their search for qualified personnel to fill hard-to-fill vacancies by offering job seekers appropriate vocational training that is always coupled to a practical in-service period. One unique feature of this programme is its concern to protect the interests of risk groups while, at the same time, having due consideration for the recruitment problems experienced by the enterprises.
Furthermore, CEFORA is trying to guide young people from a number of diploma courses towards the sector, and this by means of :
- traineeship programmes and guidance with the trainee’s final work project (networking with schools, creating a suitable rapport between school and business)
- student (summer vacation) employment
- vacancies (creating a traineeship. and vacancy. databank)
- representation at job fairs and & get-acquainted days
[ D ] Industrial Apprenticeship Training
Within the sector, CEFORA is developing the Industrial Apprenticeship Training for white-collar functions. This system offers risk groups amongst youngsters the opportunity to learn an occupation as a white-collar employee in a system organised on the basis of alternating learning and working.
[ F ] Price discounts at training institutions
Enterprises that have registered a training plan are entitled to price discounts at a number of training institutions (Formstimul). These discounts are in effect at both a number of private and public training institutions.
[ G ] Information about the training programmes offered
Enterprises can without charge consult via CEFORA an extensive databank (Formbase) that provides an overview of the training market.
CEFORA operates a study centre that conducts research in collaboration with the Social Fund of the CPNAE, other research centres, federations, social secretariats, outsourcing agencies.... This is considered necessary in order to be able to anticipate on the training needs and to inform the principal education actors about developments within the sector.
CEFORA monitors the employment evolutions and conducts studies about hard-to-fill occupations, new functions, professional and qualification profiles, training needs, the available training programmes, and new trends evident domestically and abroad, and this for the entire CPNAE as well as for the sub-sectors.
These kinds of studies serve an extremely useful purpose in that they provide a scientific base of support for the content of the CEFORA training programmes.