Audi Brussels, Actiris, Bruxelles Formation and VDAB Brussels commit to boosting employment in Brussels
AUDI BRUSSELS S.A./N.V. and government agencies for employment, Actiris, Bruxelles Formation and VDAB Brussels, have formalised their intention to collaborate more closely in future. This intention was captured in an agreement that was concluded in the Brussels car plant today. The Brussels Minister for Employment and Economy, Didier Gosuin, was also present at the signing of the agreement. Gosuin is the driving force behind this close collaboration between private companies and the Brussels Regional Office for Employment, Actiris. The agreement with Audi Brussels is not the last; it will be followed by various employer partnerships throughout the Brussels-Capital Region.
The stakeholders involved in this exchange envisage a central platform for job seekers. The idea is to simplify access to employment opportunities for candidates with less qualifications. Sufficient guidance is often lacking in this regard. Actiris, Bruxelles Formation and VDAB Brussels are keen to accept the challenge. Their objective is to optimise the existing Audi Brussels training program.
The stakeholders involved in this exchange envisage a central platform for job seekers. The idea is to simplify access to employment opportunities for candidates with less qualifications. Sufficient guidance is often lacking in this regard. Actiris, Bruxelles Formation and VDAB Brussels are keen to accept the challenge. Their objective is to optimise the existing Audi Brussels training program.
Brussels Minister for Employment and Economy, Didier Gosuin, welcomes this bilateral agreement: "This agreement kick-starts the collaboration between employment and training, and seeks to increase the number of Brussels employees on the Audi Brussels site, whilst simultaneously satisfying the real needs of the car manufacturer. Primarily by focusing on training and conversion." The construction of a brand new electric vehicle on the Audi site in Brussels will necessitate the recruitment of additional staff from 2016 onwards. This requirement will grow once Audi begins manufacturing its environmentally-aware electric model in 2018. This new recruitment drive will run in parallel with the retention of the 2,600 staff members that the plant currently employs. The Brussels authorities responsible for employment and training (Actiris, Bruxelles Formation and VDAB) have undertaken to provide Audi with integrated services that meet their personnel requirements and facilitate job seeker access to employment in Brussels. They plan to do this via a variety of concrete measures. On the one hand through recruitment advice (assisting in the drafting of job offers, supporting in the defining of job profiles etc.) and, on the other, by actively supporting the recruitment drive (job offer dissemination, pre-selection etc.), providing access to a network of Actiris partners who are active in the field of training, and offering support in the development of a diversity plan.
Support from regional authorities will enable this partnership to primarily focus on guiding the development of knowledge in these innovative industrial technologies and the associated training; but also on recruitment initiatives and on existing and future employees so that from 2018 onwards all staff will be qualified for the production of the new model. The conversion of existing staff will meanwhile enable the latter to ready themselves, particularly in the context of customising the assembly line for the new car model. This convention is aligned to the Brussels mechanism for supporting young people, by virtue of its training and employment objectives.
Brussels Minister for Employment and Economy, Didier Gosuin, welcomes this bilateral agreement: "This agreement kick-starts the collaboration between employment and training, and seeks to increase the number of Brussels employees on the Audi Brussels site, whilst simultaneously satisfying the real needs of the car manufacturer. Primarily by focusing on training and conversion." The construction of a brand new electric vehicle on the Audi site in Brussels will necessitate the recruitment of additional staff from 2016 onwards. This requirement will grow once Audi begins manufacturing its environmentally-aware electric model in 2018. This new recruitment drive will run in parallel with the retention of the 2,600 staff members that the plant currently employs. The Brussels authorities responsible for employment and training (Actiris, Bruxelles Formation and VDAB) have undertaken to provide Audi with integrated services that meet their personnel requirements and facilitate job seeker access to employment in Brussels. They plan to do this via a variety of concrete measures. On the one hand through recruitment advice (assisting in the drafting of job offers, supporting in the defining of job profiles etc.) and, on the other, by actively supporting the recruitment drive (job offer dissemination, pre-selection etc.), providing access to a network of Actiris partners who are active in the field of training, and offering support in the development of a diversity plan.
Support from regional authorities will enable this partnership to primarily focus on guiding the development of knowledge in these innovative industrial technologies and the associated training; but also on recruitment initiatives and on existing and future employees so that from 2018 onwards all staff will be qualified for the production of the new model. The conversion of existing staff will meanwhile enable the latter to ready themselves, particularly in the context of customising the assembly line for the new car model. This convention is aligned to the Brussels mechanism for supporting young people, by virtue of its training and employment objectives.
During today's press conference, the participants all emphasised that the strengthening of this collaboration will provide amongst others young job seekers in the Brussels-Capital Region increased access to job opportunities. Currently 11% of Audi Brussels staff live in the Brussels-Capital Region, compared to 9% in the past. Director General for Human Resources, Thomas Neuhaus, at Audi Brussels: "Thanks to this close collaboration with Actiris, we will be able to increase the number of employees recruited from the Brussels-Capital Region, yet without losing sight of employees from other parts of the country and whilst simultaneously bearing qualification levels in mind."
Audi is the trailblazer for "vocational education" in Belgium with their Dual Learning program." Since 2012, Audi Brussels has worked in close cooperation with two partner schools, from both the French and Flemish speaking parts of the country. The aim is to give young people access to the working world. General Director for Technology and Logistics at Audi Brussels, Patrick Danau, emphasises the need to attract qualified employees at the Brussels plant: "From 2018 onwards, we will commence production of the very first fully-electric SUV in Audi's history in the Brussels plant. For the production of the Audi e-tron quattro concept we require a workforce that is specialised in high-voltage technology. We hope that governmental and private employment institutions will assist us in sourcing suitable candidates. We additionally hope to be able to draw on their support in training these future employees."
It is also an opportunity for stakeholders in Brussels and Belgium to develop synergies between the regional pillars in innovative fields and the potential in the automotive sector. Furthermore, the Belgian site can profile itself as a European leader in terms of research, training and skills in combination with the production of electric cars and the associated technologies.
It is also an opportunity for stakeholders in Brussels and Belgium to develop synergies between the regional pillars in innovative fields and the potential in the automotive sector. Furthermore, the Belgian site can profile itself as a European leader in terms of research, training and skills in combination with the production of electric cars and the associated technologies.
Actiris, Bruxelles Formation, VDAB Brussels and Audi have agreed to meet regularly in order to optimally define the employment offering. The dialogue between the four partners is characterised by pragmatism and the needs of each individual stakeholder. The following activities shall be prioritised: conducting joint meetings, exchanging information and developing recommendations. The aim is to provide job seekers with a skills evaluation, enable them to position their profiles and to offer them career prospects. Job seekers will receive an overview of the current job and training opportunities at Audi. The convention that was signed today additionally provides for an annual evaluation of collective activities in the field of employment.