Digital training for employees: SMEs receive financial support
The current crisis requires great efforts, but it also offers opportunities: digitalswitzerland, the Gebert Rüf and Hirschmann Foundation financially support Swiss SMEs and members of the #LifelongLearning campaign in digital training. Companies affected by short-time work receive subsidies so that the digital skills of their employees can be promoted.
Recent studies show that by 2022, more than half of the Swiss workforce will have a significant need for retraining and continuing education. This is due, among other things, to advancing digitization and automation but also to the country's demographic development. To cope with these changes, Swiss employers will need to take additional measures to achieve an appropriate match between supply and demand for skilled workers, which is crucial to ensuring a strong economy, low unemployment rates and sustainable economic growth. Continuing education in addition to various day-to-day demands can be challenging for employees. This makes it all the more important for employers to work to ensure that employees have the most motivating environment possible in which to train and develop. This is what the campaign is all about #LifelongLearning.
Promoting digital continuing education
This campaign is also supported by digitalswitzerland, the Gebert Rüf Foundation and the Hirschmann Foundation. All three institutions are concerned about education and training, as well as the development of Switzerland as a business location. Above all, digitalswitzerland wants to make Switzerland a leading international location for digital innovation.
With the "Your chance to stay fit" program, both employees and employers can directly and easily apply for conditional financial support of up to 50% of the further training costs or up to CHF 1,000 per applicant for the acquisition of digital skills. As things stand, the program can cover the training costs of around 90 applicants in total.
Investment for the management of structural change
"Digital transformation is a particular challenge for many companies. New technologies are continuously creating new demands on employees. This structural change requires investment in further training. Therefore, with the new program, we want to make a contribution to Swiss employees and employers so that they can seize potential and opportunities in the current difficult situation," says Danièle Castle, Senior Director Education&Talent at digitalswitzerland.
All further information including application form for employees and employers are available on www.lifelonglearning.ch/boost to find.
