Learning should be natural for adults too

'Vocational trainer for skilled workers.' With this new campaign, Summa draws the attention of employers and their employees to the importance of further training and retraining. “The urgency is great,” says Régine van Lieshout , Program Director for Lifelong Learning (LLL) at Summa. “We desperately need everyone.”

The Brainport Region, along with Greater Amsterdam, is the largest economic growth engine in the Netherlands. Many jobs are being created, despite a significant staff shortage, with many employees retiring and too few young people ready to fill the gaps. Moreover, major societal issues such as the energy transition and climate change are at play, and developments like digitalization and AI require new skills.

These challenges can only be addressed if people can continue to develop, argues Régine. “Work experience alone isn't enough. We need a culture in which it's self-evident that people continue to learn. But this culture is often lacking, especially in SMEs. This is also reflected in collective bargaining agreements: a training budget is often limited to a few hundred euros. Subsidies do exist, but they come from three different ministries that operate independently, resulting in a lack of coherence. Moreover, they are often complex and only available in limited quantities.”

"It's high time for public education to play a greater role," says Régine. "So that every citizen can continue to develop throughout their lives. Expand the legal mandate of educational institutions to include education for adults. Education for adults, under the auspices of a single ministry, would then be funded by the government, just like it is for young people. For example, in the form of learning entitlements. Educational institutions, employers, and governments will jointly determine what training programs are needed in their region. This consists of short or longer learning paths, tailored to the talents and needs of the participant."

Meanwhile, Summa is continuously expanding its range of upskilling and reskilling courses for adults and is also taking other initiatives to stimulate adult development. Examples include integrated language and care pathways for newcomers, customized programs for people in vulnerable positions and job seekers, and a Logistics Vocational School at DAF . “We can also help employers explore subsidy opportunities,” says Régine, who emphasizes that Summa works closely with various regional partners to support employers. “The regional Employment Center, for example, can help employers gain insight into the benefits employee development brings to their company.”

Summa hopes the campaign—which will be seen on billboards and social media—will inspire more companies and employees to take action. The urgency is high, Régine emphasizes again. "We really need everyone's help to successfully tackle the challenges in our region."

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