Future Position X has been granted SEK 8.5 million by the EU to increase digital skills of employees at small and medium-sized companies in Northern Central Sweden. The project, which will begin this fall and lasts for 2.5 years, is being implemented in collaboration with IF Metall.

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the EU’s main tool for promoting employment in Europe. The ESF supports local, regional and national projects that create jobs, help the business community and strengthen the skills of individuals. At the beginning of the year, the Swedish ESF Council announced a total of SEK 32 million for projects within the program area Competency Development in Northern Central Sweden, ie Gävleborgs län, Dalarnas län and Värmlands län.

In fierce competition with many other players, Future Position X was awarded a sum of SEK 8,545,432 for an education project that will run over 2.5 years. The project is aimed at existing staff at small and medium-sized companies who want and need to learn more about digitization and have the opportunity to practice their knowledge in their workplace.
Henrik Dahl is CEO of member organization FPX, who among other things works to develop digital competence in society.
– The support for this education project provides a fantastic opportunity for all the region’s players to work together to strengthen the position of employees in the labor market. Through local anchoring, we can identify the individual needs in the industry when it comes to digitization, and thereby achieve good results.

Initially, the focus of the program is broad, but the program participants will gradually have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a chosen technology. Participants will also complete a final project within the framework of their workplace during the program. For example, it may be a feasibility study, code programming or to set up a web shop, an assignment that will help to increase the company’s competitiveness. The project goal is for the participating employees to gain a greater understanding of the possibilities of digitalization. The project that starts in August is being carried out in collaboration with IF Metall.
Renate Almén is department chairman at IF Metall Gävleborg and one of the initiators of the project together with FPX:
– There is a great need for increased digitalization in the region´s industry in order for us to continue to be competitive as a region, both in Sweden and internationally. Together with FPX, we are developing an effective, concrete project that will produce good results and lead to positive development, both for the individual and for the industrial companies.