Green and Digital Jobs Action Plan
In the spring of 2022, the Dutch government announced the introduction of the Green and Digital Jobs Action Plan as a complement to the generic policy addressing labor market shortages. In parallel, there is a significant number of investment programs from the Nationaal Groeifonds Fund and the Europese Unie focused on the energy transition or its components. This raised the question for the Energy Top Sector: How can we effectively manage these programs collectively? This prompted an exploration of a cohesive approach.
Advice document on a coherent approach
The exploration resulted in an advisory document for a coordinated approach to the various investment programs of the human capital agenda, which was presented and handed over to the Director-General of Economic Affairs and Climate, Sandor Gaastra (at the time of the event), during the kick-off event 'Human Capital Energy Transition' on December 9, 2022 in Utrecht. Attendees at this gathering included GroenvermogenNL, Topsector Energie, Chemie, HTSM en andere topsectoren, LLO-Katalysator, Taakgroep Arbeidsmarkt & Scholing, Katapult, Ministerie van EZK, Ministerie van OCW en Just Transition Fund.
As all these programs will be investing in education, innovation, lifelong learning, scaling up, and labor market projects in the region in the coming years, they want to collaborate as effectively as possible.
From Exploration to Action
On Monday, March 6, 2023, the execution of the advisory document commenced, and progress was discussed among the relevant programs and initiatives. The conclusion drawn from this conversation is that almost all programs are in action mode. Many schemes are about to open or have already opened, and efforts are being made to actively collaborate in a constructive manner at both regional and national levels. In some areas, this is already happening successfully.
Until the summer of 2023, several initiatives will be undertaken to further strengthen collaboration between the programs and within the regions. A working group will be established for concrete implementation, and progress will be shared within this group.
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A partner with whom we closely collaborate in implementing the cohesive approach is the LLO-Katalysator. LLO-Katalysator is a multi-year program through which educational institutions, including vocational schools, universities of applied sciences, and universities, provide a significant boost to lifelong learning (LLO), both nationally and regionally. The goal of the LLO-Katalysator is to ensure that organizations and professionals continuously adapt to a rapidly changing society and labor market. In 2023, the LLO-Katalysator will officially launch with a pilot program in the energy and resource transition. Learn more about the LLO-Katalysator here.
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Fortunately, we are already witnessing synergy emerging in many regions. Important initiatives in the field of energy and energy transition are being developed through regional agendas. Regions are effectively leveraging the opportunities provided by various programs, and networks are being combined.
In collaboration with Katapult, a network map has been created, which will be expanded to include activities, good practices, and contact persons from all programs.
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- Regional approach: Achieving synergy and implementing smart strategies at the regional level. GroenvermogenNL takes the lead in this regard.
- Career pathways: Tools and initiatives such as LLO-Katalysator, "Mensen maken de Transitie" (People Drive the Transition), and the upscaling of public-private partnerships in vocational education.
- Engagement of the business community: Given that many investments target this group, how can we involve the business community in a smart way? (Regional approach through Learning Communities, national and sector-specific approaches through the "Aanvalsplan Techniek" (Attack Plan Technology), "Aanvalsplan ICT" (Attack Plan ICT), the Social and Economic Council (SER), and "Mensen maken de Transitie.")
- Instrument development and incorporation of "good practices" in national upscaling efforts by linking them to investments, such as the Transition Pathways tool.
- Labor market research: The SER (which has already conducted several studies) and others like GroenvermogenNL will conduct specific labor market research on topics such as hydrogen. LLO-Katalysator is developing the LLO Radar, among other initiatives.
- Overview map: Katapult is developing this in collaboration with the Growth Funds.
- Monitoring: Utilizing each other's monitoring data (potentially in close collaboration with implementation organizations).
- Dialogue and communication: Serving as a means for synergy between regions and for aligning content among subsidy applicants, as well as for developing a smart strategy and ensuring clear and consistent external communication.
Take action yourself
Do you want to take action as well? Synergy can be achieved through the following themes. Contact Koen Maassen, koen.maassen@topsectorenergie.nl, for advice on which program aligns with which theme in your region.
