Project n°20
INTRODUCTION
The project “Regional cooperation project +Business +Employment +Rural” is a new mechanism to bring the job market closer to those looking for jobs aiming to retain people in the rural area and thereby reduce unemployment. The aim is to harmonise access to information, guidance and training across the participating territories so that the take-up of existing employment and self-employment opportunities would improve. Social inclusion, equal opportunities and socio-economic sustainability are key principles of the project. Thanks to the jobs portal that was created, the beneficiaries (companies, job seekers, and service providers) connect directly with each other and receive important information about opportunities and activities. In this collaborative project, 11 LAGs developed a joint strategy to provide a more effective response to the needs of jobseekers and businesses in Castilla y León (Spain). The project integrate all sectors but, given the geographical situation, the primary sector (agri-food) and the service sector are more dominant than others.
PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT
The initial project idea came from an evaluation study which pinpointed a number of inter-related and serious challenges affecting the rural area in Castilla y León, Spain. These included high unemployment, lack of economic and business activities, depopulation and a general weakening of the socio-economic fabric of the area, combined with a lack of information and guidance on how to find employment or to find out about self-employment options. This was compounded by a lack of entrepreneurial culture and a low ability to adapt to change, leading many young people and women to leave their villages in search of job opportunities elsewhere – mostly in cities. Even the LAGs of these rural territories were increasingly approached by people asking for employment. Based on this evident need to improve access to information about existing job offers and to increase the levels of self-employment and entrepreneurship, the project idea was to create a new mechanism – an online platform – to deliver relevant information, advice and guidance. The target audience included job seekers as well as local companies in search of staff, who could reach potential employees more effectively. To increase the scale and effectiveness of such a new, internet- based tool, it made sense for the LAGs to collaborate with each other. The idea of a collaborative rural employment platform was born in 2018. Firstly, the project was implemented over a period of three years 2018-2021 and it is continuing until 2024. The first phase included the set-up of all relevant project structures that would be implemented throughout the duration of the project. The second phase focused on the training of trainers in relevant topics and the provision of information about the content, access and administration of the service provision. The topics included entrepreneurship and business advice. Other sessions focused on the use of the socio-occupational guidance platform, the methodology of socio-labour guidance actions and the use of the labour market integration platform. Assistance was provided for content creation for the project’s platform and its management. The third phase focused on the actual work with unemployed people and with companies. The activities matched job seekers with job opportunities, including by providing technical assistance for disabled people. A digital newsletter on employment and entrepreneurship was developed and the project was promoted and communicated to the target audiences, including via awareness raising events to help strengthen the entrepreneurial culture. This was followed by the promotion of ‘cooperation spaces’ for companies and business associations. The innovative web platform (www.empleorural.es) includes a comprehensive range of employment services, allowing people direct access to job offers, a database of business resources available for sale, rent or transfer, employment news, courses, grants and subsidies, and job vacancies. Training and personalised advice included support in the field of self-employment to create, diversify or restructure businesses. In 2021, a study was carried out with the Universities of Valladolid and Burgos about the situation of rural companies after the Covid-19 pandemic.
PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES
The main aim of the project was to develop a joint strategy between the 11 LAGs focusing on stimulating and promoting the rural labour market via improved provision of information, advice and guidance for the unemployed, entrepreneurs and companies.
> Creation and administration of a rural employment internet platform for the management and dissemination of opportunities and activities.
> Creation of 11 Regional Entrepreneurial Training Spaces.
> Provision of technical assistance to business projects likely to offer employment opportunities.
> Equipping people with the necessary skills to be able to identify, choose and/or redirect to viable training and employment alternatives, in line with their potential, their employment needs and their life circumstances.
> Efficient and effective project management and monitoring.
ADDED VALUE OF THE PROJECT
The added value of this initiative was based on dealing with common problems in rural areas from Castilla y León. This boosted the transfer of knowledge and experience in reducing rural depopulation. A methodology based on cooperation between LAGs led to excellent results and synergies such as the creation of the innovative and effective tool. It would be beneficial to run a follow-up project and complement its activities with those of other local and regional organisations. Training all beneficiaries (SMEs, self-employed, workers, entrepreneurs and local entities) is important to combat a weakening of the economic and social sectors and to improve access to information. The employment platform offers real solutions to complex processes such as rural depopulation by promoting citizen participation and entrepreneurship, generating opportunities for women and young people. In quantitative terms, the project created one comprehensive platform of employment and entrepreneurship services, bringing together more than 6 500 registered job seekers, more than 10 500 companies and managing more than 2 300 job offers. Around 700 companies gained know-how in digital transformation. More than 1 800 young people have an increased awareness of entrepreneurialism and job opportunities. Participants acquired relevant tools and key skills in how to search for employment. Of all people employed through the platform, more than 200 were young people. Additionally, learning spaces for more than 300 people were created. In qualitative terms, the project increased the economic dynamism of the labour market. The participating companies can now present their job opportunities in a more informative and appealing manner to improve their competitiveness. It was also noted that young people had a more pro-active attitude in searching for employment and that they felt more motivated and encouraged through the support. The project helped job seekers to learn how to prepare CVs, cover letters, job interviews, and to increase their presence on social networks and to consider self-employment. And also it offered networking opportunities for young people, women, vulnerable groups, businesses, entrepreneurs and local organisations. The dissemination of information, social networking, conferences and publications also helped to raise overall awareness about the job portal. The web side www.empleorural.es is an innovative technological tool to connect the labour force with employers.
