DistantNews
Support us
🇧🇪 Belgium /Economy & Trade

Talentlab in Pelt Aims to Help Job Seekers Navigate the Labour Market: “We’ll Add Another Campus Here”

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Talentlab has opened in Pelt through a partnership between Noordkracht, SyntraPXL, VDAB and the municipality, offering space for career development and new training programs.
  • The centre will help young people explore occupations and provide lifelong-learning courses for adults, older residents and pensioners.
  • Organizers say its local access can reduce mobility barriers for residents of seven North Limburg municipalities, where some people remain outside the labour market because of skills gaps or limited Dutch proficiency.

A new 250-square-metre centre in Pelt is designed to help people find their way through a changing labour market, whether they are looking for work, considering a career change or simply trying to keep their skills current.

Talentlab opened at the Talentcampus as a joint initiative of the municipality of Pelt, SyntraPXL, VDAB and Noordkracht, the intermunicipal partnership that supports residents across North Limburg through care and public services. The centre includes co-working spaces and a podcast studio. Its organizers also want it to serve as a breeding ground for new training programs in the region.

We see, for example, that when school leavers enter the labour market, knowledge is gone after a number of years. Then they need to acquire new knowledge.

· Joris PhilipsThe VDAB director explained why workers and job seekers need continuing training.

VDAB director Joris Philips said the region’s labour-market needs vary widely. School leavers can lose knowledge after several years, he said, creating a need to acquire new skills. Talentlab will give young people a chance to learn about different occupations and understand what those jobs involve. Adults and older people can use the centre as well, including pensioners taking courses in digitalization.

Lifelong learning does not stop.

· Joris PhilipsPhilips said adults should continue to review their careers and pursue training while employed.

“Lifelong learning does not stop,” Philips said. “Even while working, people must continuously think actively about their careers and take courses.”

Philips put employment in North Limburg at about 78 percent, but said too many people still remain on the sidelines because they lack the right skills or sufficient Dutch. The centre’s location is intended to lower barriers linked to limited mobility. Residents of the Northkracht region, including Bocholt, Bree, Hamont-Achel, Hechtel-Eksel, Lommel, Peer and Pelt, can use the Talenthub at a low rate.

North Limburg residents can use a podcast studio or meeting spaces here to engage with their talents in an informal way.

· Dennis FranssenThe Noordkracht chairman described how residents can use Talentlab’s facilities.

The project draws on a wider network that includes employers’ organization VOKA and youth welfare group Arktos. VOKA has already taken temporary space in the building for a TalentCenter. Noordkracht chairman Dennis Franssen said local residents could use the podcast studio and meeting spaces to engage with their talents in an informal way. SyntraPXL CEO Dirk Vanstippelen said the partners plan to add another campus.

We’ll add another campus here.

· Dirk VanstippelenThe SyntraPXL CEO referred to plans to expand the initiative.
About this summary

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog