The European Commission has just published its first compendium of Good Practices in the promotion of apprenticeship. Among the 46 initiatives selected from 226 members of the European Alliance for Apprenticeship (EAfA), the Employers’ Club for a European Apprenticeship Area, led by EAM, features among initiatives dedicated to the international mobility of apprentices.
Jean Arthuis, former minister and founding president of Euro App Mobility, welcomes this recognition:
"This labelling by the European Commission is a tribute to the work accomplished collectively with VET providers and employers' organisations. It confirms that apprentice mobility is a strategic issue for Europe and highlights that employers are key players. It is a source of pride for all those who have committed themselves to developing this initiative, which is already present in 7 departments in France and is set to expand across the entire EAM partner network."
Why create an Employers' Club?
The development of international apprenticeship mobility often comes up against a lack of understanding from companies, which struggle to see its benefits. Jean-Christophe Sciberras, national coordinator of the Club, clearly identifies the causes:
"Employers are not opposed to mobility; they simply lack awareness of its benefits. When one employer hears another employer mention the benefits of international mobility or hosting an international apprentice, the conversation changes completely. This is precisely where the Club plays its role."
The initiative was developed in collaboration with the three main French employer organizations, MEDEF, U2P, and CPME, with the support of the Ministry of Labor, the Global Deal, and the three consular networks.
How does the Club work?
Guillaume Baudet, Deputy Director General of EAM, in charge of the Club, describes how the scheme works in practice:
"We have chosen a grassroots approach, as close as possible to the realities of businesses. Departmental clubs have been created to bring training institutions and employers closer together, encourage peer-to-peer exchanges, and develop pilot projects at the regional level. Local spokespersons lead these networks, and a national coordinator ensures the link with representatives of major French and international companies."
The Compendium of Good Practices highlights several key factors in the success of this approach: the support of national vocational training providers, the involvement of recognised figures in the apprenticeship ecosystem, and the ability to illustrate the benefits of mobility through concrete examples.
A recognition that invites us to go further
Inclusion in the EAfA Compendium identifies the Employers’ Club for a European Apprenticeship Area as an approach replicable at the European level, likely to inspire other member countries in their efforts to develop apprentice mobility. Andreas Gabriel, Head of European Development at EAM and coordinator of the Coalition for European Apprentice Mobility, highlights the scope of this recognition beyond French borders:
"What the European Commission recognizes here is a method that can be transposed to countries familiar with apprenticeship in Europe. The obstacles employers face regarding apprentice mobility are not unique to France — they are European. The strength of the Club is precisely to show that a network of committed employers, structured and rooted in local realities, can make a difference. This is exactly the message we carry within the Coalition for European Apprentice Mobility. With our European partners and under Erasmus+, we are also working on a label called EQAMOB to distinguish companies that use quality mobility for skills development."
The EAfA Compendium of Good Practices is available on the European Commission website.
Press contact: Euro App Mobility – Guillaume Baudet – Nikola Avramovic
