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SKILLBRIDGE

SKILLBRIDGE

TCLF SkillBridge is a European initiative funded under the Single Market Programme. Coordinated by EURATEX with the support of CEC (European Footwear Confederation) and COTANCE (European Leather Confederation), the project builds on the EU TCLF Pact for Skills launched in 2021.

Its mission is to establish and strengthen Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs) across Europe in the textile, clothing, leather and footwear sectors. These partnerships bring together companies, education and training providers, and regional authorities to address urgent skills needs linked to the green and digital transitions.

Through mapping, regional workshops, peer learning and mobility programmes, and a dedicated Call for Services, SkillBridge supports SMEs to upskill and reskill their workforce. The ultimate goal is to transform these collaborations into formal regional skills partnerships under the Pact for Skills, ensuring long-term impact and sustainability.

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF TCLF SKILLBRIDGE

  1. Establish Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs): Set up at least 8 multi-stakeholder RSPs in TCLF regions, aligned with the EU Pact for Skills.
  2. Support Regional Stakeholders: Provide tools, workshops, and guidance to help regions organise governance, define work programmes, and act.
  3. Fund targeted SME Actions: Launch a €500,000 Call for Services to support at least 10 projects delivering training, mentoring, mobility, and apprenticeships.
  4. Foster Collaboration: Promote peer learning, cross-regional exchanges, and networking to share best practices across Europe.
  5. Ensure Long-term Sustainability: Monitor progress, benchmark results, and develop sustainability plans and funding strategies for long-term impact.

HCIA’s INVOLVEMENT

HCIA, within the framework of the implementation of the SkillBridge project, has undertaken the implementation of specific pilot actions for the Region of Attica. Specifically, the pilot action focuses on the upgrading of educational courses that target new knitting techniques, which can be directly applied to both footwear and clothing. Through the project, a new training program (up to 40 hours) will be designed for freelancers and employees in TCLF industries with previous experience in design and knitting with flat bed machines and who wish to deepen their knowledge in cutting-edge technologies, innovative design applications, automation and sustainable production strategies. The training will focus on advanced machine functions, programming of complex patterns and in-depth exploration of 3D knitting techniques. The educational material will be developed by specialized scientific staff and will be available on-line through a dedicated educational platform.

In addition, guidance and mentoring actions are planned for beneficiaries in collaboration with specialized professionals in the TCLF sector.

The implementation of the program will be completed by December 2026.

For further information https://tclfskillbridge.eu

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.