Innovative Work-Based Learning for Vulnerable Adults

ESF+ Community of Practice on Employment, Education and Skills is organising the webinar ‘Innovative Work-Based Learning for Vulnerable Adults’, which will take place on 21 May 2026 from 10:00 to 12:30 CEST.

The session will provide practical insights, inspiration and a space for exchange among ESF+ practitioners interested in innovative approaches to skills development and labour market inclusion.

During this Peer Review, we will present and compare three inspiring practices from different institutional contexts, focusing particularly on their management and implementation models. The examples illustrate how work-based learning can be organised through social enterprises combining training with transitional employment, or collaborations between for-profit employers and NGOs, where employers provide stable jobs and NGOs deliver the necessary support services. These models aim to balance social inclusion objectives with the realities of operating in competitive markets.

The session will be relevant both for ESF+ practitioners who are new to the work-based learning approach and for organisations seeking inspiration to further develop their existing WBL programmes. We will discuss the practical challenges of implementing WBL programmes, including how to identify the right target groups, fit training into work schedules, and ensure that participants can successfully transition to the open labour market. The panel discussion will also bring in the insights of policy experts from the OECD and Cedefop (see recent publications below).