Best practices
Targeted Multi-Channel Recruitment for Advanced Digital Skills in Agrifood SMEs
Users: SMEs, Training Providers (private) | Theme: Industry Engagement |
Action: Stakeholder Collaboration | Beneficiaries: Students, Professionals, Industry, SMEs
TRUST-FOOD aimed to recruit SMEs’ staff, professionals, and jobseekers across Europe to advanced blockchain training for trusted food supply chains, ensuring wide geographical and sectoral coverage across a multilingual and diverse target population.
The challenge?
Reaching relevant agrifood stakeholders, overcoming low awareness of blockchain technology, language barriers, and ensuring sufficient participation from SMEs and jobseekers across multiple EU countries.
Our solution
A combined recruitment approach including:
- Direct ecosystem engagement through SME associations, Chambers of Commerce, and European Digital Innovation Hubs
- Strategic use of EU platforms and institutional channels, including the Digital Skills & Jobs Platform and cluster networks
- Targeted communication campaigns including paid promotion
- Structured learning paths adapted to different skill levels and professional profiles
- Delivery through a multilingual platform in 7 languages.
Outcomes
40%
Increase in course applications (from 5,401 to 7,562)
34%
Increase in courses completed by labour force particpants (from 364 to 550);
31%
Increase in courses completed by jobseekers (from 272 to 397); strong uptake across multiple thematic courses.
Overall, there was a really strong uptake across multiple thematic courses.
Key takeaways
- Multilingual access is critical for pan-European recruitment
- Trusted intermediary organisations significantly boost participation
- EU-level platforms enhance visibility and credibility
- Structured learning paths improve retention and completion rates