The story behind skillaware

Nothing is as it was...

The changes of our working world are so serious that we all need to develop in order to have a secure and fulfilling job in the future.

Why? Because sooner or later, all specialist areas and levels...

• the fields of activity will change significantly,
• The demands on our skills and competencies are increasing,
• and thus entire Job profiles will be reformed

This is a challenge and requires a rethink in terms of employee development and personal further training. We need a new, additional focus. This is moving away from the Professional skills - towards the interdisciplinary skills or the basic competences

Developing an awareness of this is just as important for HR and managers as it is for employees. That's why all the offers you will find here on platform deal with two major topics

skillaware - a brand based on conviction and supported by many supporters.

It is 2018, a year that will be remembered as a turning point by all founding parties of skillaware.

"All social partners met for the annual committee. We discussed the current challenges facing employers and employees in the Swiss banking sector. Normally, we discuss things a little longer, a little more controversially. But we quickly agreed on one pressing issue: safeguarding the employability of bank employees. "Balz Stückelberger, Director Employers in Banking.

At the time, social partners realized that our working world had changed. One of the biggest drivers of this development: digitisation and rapid technological progress. They have triggered a lot. And in all areas of companies.

• Processes are becoming increasingly automated
• AI is being used more and more frequently
• We need to work in a more networked and agile way
• We have a larger selection of working models
• We need to look at new forms of collaboration
• Testing and discarding many new tools
• Our areas of responsibility are becoming more complex
• We suddenly have more responsibility

You, dear reader, can certainly add further effects from your own personal everyday working life to the list. Regardless of how you experience changes , whether positive, negative or neutral, it is crucial to make a difference and it is up to you. Or to put it in the words of J.P Morgan. "The first step in getting anywhere is deciding not to stay where you are."

"Ultimately, only those who have a development plan, who focus primarily on training their interdisciplinary skills and who can keep pace with changes remain employable. It was important to us as an employee association to consistently draw attention to this and to inform employees, raise their awareness and provide offers. That's why we are a proud co-initiator of skillaware." Natalia Ferrara, Director of the Swiss Bank Employees Association

skillaware faces a huge challenge right from the start.

Everyone senses that something is changing - making what this means tangible for everyone is a mammoth exercise. Putting into words what changes means for each individual in the work context is often anything but easy. This can also be a challenging situation for HR and managers. How do you take everyone with you?

For people from the back office, changes feels different than for customer advisors at Front. Legal, the marketing unit or the investment team have a completely different perspective. But one thing is clear: the kind of change we are currently experiencing has an impact on our profile as employees. It places completely new demands on our skills, our abilities and our competencies. And this requires industry-wide support, a point of contact that provides guidance for everyone involved, regardless of their previous contact with the topics competence development and employability !

"skillaware enables bank employees to actively engage with their own employability and regularly update and expand their skills. For us as an education and employee association, these are key concerns that the Kaufmännische Verband Schweiz has championed since its foundation. That is why we have been involved with skillaware from the very beginning. "Pascal Lamprecht, Head of Social Partnership at the Swiss Commercial Association

Offers that really help you and are fun

Together with change expert Dr. Franca Burkhardt, the skillaware core team is working with a large network of volunteer experts to further develop the portfolio of services for you. A portfolio that helps you to train your personal competence fitness independently or with support. It is also available to HR units and managers as a source of inspiration and news.

So if you don't want to miss any more information and offers, sign up for our news feed! 

Real stories that change writes...

Speaking of making something tangible and comprehensible. Perhaps you are the type of person who likes to read stories and be inspired. Then the following stories are definitely something for you.

• Find out how Bruno, a career changer, got to know and love the banking world and the back office in the 1980s, but now faces a major development hurdle and how he overcomes it.
• Immerse yourself in the world of IT expert Sandra, who suddenly has to give presentations and conduct negotiations, and although she never wanted to, she is really good at it.
• Join HR expert Daniel in his daily balancing act when it comes to employee development, between meeting individual needs and taking strategic corporate goals into account. And benefit from his best-practice tips!