On 14 December, from 14:00 until 15:30 CET, the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) will organise a live discussion on how to promote apprenticeships to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

During the event, participants will discuss policy and different instruments used to involve SMEs in apprenticeship programmes across Europe.

Some of the topics that the discussion aims to explore include:

• effective ways to promote apprenticeships to SMEs at national and regional levels;
• challenges and barriers faced by SMEs when participating in apprenticeship schemes;
• incentivising SMEs to take up apprenticeships and identifying their needs;
• the future of apprenticeships in SMEs in the context of the digital and green transitions.

The event will be moderated by Simon Broek, senior expert in vocational education and training, and Director of Ockham IPS.

It is our pleasure to have as keynote speaker Valentina Guerra, Social Affairs and Training Policy Adviser at SMEUnited. We will also be joined by the following esteemed speakers:

• Miriana Bucalossi, Head of Apprenticeship, Work-Based Learning Policies and EU Project Management Unit, Tuscany Region, Italy
• Paula Zaplana, technical Policy Officer in European Projects, PIMEC (Catalan Small and Medium Business Association), Spain
• Sergio Corridori, head of HR department, Marchesi Mazzei (wine-producer)
• Mara Ivancevic, VET-teacher, Sskola-bedekovcina, Croatia - TBC

Register now for the live discussion.