19 November 2025 – Skills shortages are European challenges, but they are experienced locally. Textile regions have different industrial structures, specialisations and education systems, and effective solutions therefore need to be built close to companies and workers.
TCLF SkillBridge is strengthening this regional dimension by supporting Regional Skills Partnerships that bring together companies, industry organisations, education and training providers, regional authorities and social partners. In 2025, the project moved from partnership-building towards practical services designed specifically for SMEs.
The initiative allows regional partnerships to develop tailored training in areas such as sustainability, circularity, quality management and digitalisation. It can also support mentoring, apprenticeships, knowledge transfer, guidance on funding opportunities and tools that help SMEs continue skills development beyond the lifetime of individual projects.
This approach addresses one of the most persistent barriers to upskilling in the TCLF ecosystem. Small and medium-sized companies often recognise the need to develop new competences but have limited time, staff and resources to organise training independently. Regional cooperation can help by pooling expertise, connecting companies with training providers and adapting solutions to the realities of local industry.
For EURATEX, the regional partnerships are an important mechanism for turning the objectives of the Pact for Skills into practical support. They create a permanent bridge between European ambition and local implementation, helping ensure that skills policies reach the SMEs that form the backbone of the sector.