Background

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) believes that economic inclusion – the opening-up of economic opportunities to previously underserved social groups – is integral to development. Based on the concept of equal opportunity, the Bank measures the extent to which economic institutions, markets and education systems extend opportunities to people regardless of their circumstances. These include gender, place of birth or, for young people in particular, social background.

Our customer

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Aim of the project

The Skills in Business project aims to address some of the hurdles faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and young labour market entrants alike – with the overarching objective to increase the capacity of small businesses to recruit, build and retain young skilled labour and at the same time open up opportunity for young labour market entrants through the implementation of work-based learning schemes.

The project promotes a previous phase of work where People 1st International and EBRD developed an SME Human Resource Competency Framework, comprising 15 standards linked to specific outcomes and KPIs and provided training to local HR consultants across eight countries to equip them with the tools and know-how to support local small businesses to increase the effectiveness of HR management in line with international best practice.

We are now working with SMEs across countries including Moldova and Albania, Georgia and Mongolia to support them in strengthening their HR systems and approaches to work-based learning.