On January 20th, the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN4Youth) and its members organized a breakfast at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017, developed in Davos.

The topic of the encounter was Skills for Business, Work for Youth, and its goal was to promote new models of apprenticeship and exploring opportunities for collaboration and partnership.

Speakers included Alain Dehaze, Chief Executive Officer at Adecco Group, Sergio P. Ermotti, Group Chief Executive Officer at UBS Group AG, Paul Bulcke, Member of the Board of Directors and Chairman Designate at Nestlé, and Shea Gopaul, Executive Director of the Global Apprenticeship Network.

Guy Ryder, General Director of the International Labor Organization (ILO), attended the meeting and stated that “Apprenticeships are the oldest Public-Private Partnerships in the world”

Sergio Ermotti pointed out that “apprenticeships are a good framework for lifelong learning as they can retrain people, they are not just for young people”. On a similar train of thought, Alain Dehaze claimed that “apprenticeships can be an opportunity to reskill people in a fast and efficient way.”

Moreover, Paul Buckle highlighted that apprenticeships play a major role, as it is important to get youth into jobs, because if you lose them at this age, it becomes very difficult to get them back.

GAN Members insist that apprenticeship is the key to good jobs, high incomes and a better ROI for companies. Looking at countries where apprenticeship is diversified into many sectors and forms part of the country’s tradition, youth unemployment rates are much lower. The main message is that it should not be only those with a college degree who are destined for success. Talent should come from all backgrounds, regardless of socioeconomic status and wealth. 

During the event, Microsoft and ABB Group News announced they are joining the GAN4Youth initiative.

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