France launches collective action to keep rubber skills

ERJ staff report (DS)

Paris -- French professional rubber groups are together launching a new operation to preserve and disseminate rubber skills and ensure that the people who possess them can continue to contribute to the industry. The initiative is especially focussed on the small and medium enterprises and an ageing population in the sector who are likely soon to retire.

The project is led by Elastopôle, the pole of competitiveness rubber and polymers in partnership with UCAPLAST (the Federation of European and International Public Service Unions of SME of Rubber and Plasturgie) and the SNCP (Syndicat National du Caoutchouc et des Polymères).

In the coming five years, over 10,000 employees are due to retire in the French rubber sector. SME are badly prepared to handle this situation,  with SME companies less well prepared for the loss of skills that will occur as more people retire, said the Elastopôle.

The program “DEFI PME Caoutchouc" or "Challenge SME Rubber” will assess skills and competencies among employees at a panel of 45 companies.

Thereafter, the programme aims to assess the impact of future retirements on the company and how their competitiveness may change, and then to help with recruitement to fill skills gaps.

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Websiteof Elastopôle