Work Experience Campaign launched by European Commission

The European Commission has launched the "We Mean Business" campaign, which aims to encourage companies across Europe to create more trainee placements to boost young people's skills and employability. The campaign will provide 280,000 placements during 2012/2013 funded by the Leonardo da Vinci and Erasmus schemes for vocational and higher education students.

 

Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said:

 

"We Mean Business will support efforts by Member States to combat youth unemployment, which has reached unacceptably high levels in some EU countries. In particular, we want to raise awareness of the value of international placements, which can improve an individual's language skills as well as helping them to be more self-confident and adaptable. Our studies show that employers increasingly value these kinds of skills."

 

Surveys highlight that few companies are aware of the possibility of hosting a trainee in the framework of a European programme. The "We Mean Business" campaign aims to change this situation and to demonstrate the benefits of international placements to businesses. 

 

The campaign has a dedicated website, which contains information and links on how to organise or find a European placement. Awareness raising events will take place in Member States, targeted at chambers of commerce, regional development agencies, business support organisations and other 'multipliers' who can highlight the benefits of placements for companies. 

Members of the Work Place Learning Centre team are available to provide journalists and media organisations with expert comment on all aspects of learning at work.

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