WHAT IS L3 CLUB?

The project was created based on a solid conviction that only a joint effort and non ordinary project regarding territorial socio economic issues could help the industries and workers to overcome the crisis which has effected the biellese district.
L3C is part of an European Community Equal project and is involved in the following matters:

* the workers: helping them in re-examining their skills and seeking new employment, individualizing the ideal re-qualification process
* the services: strengthening the public sector's capabilities in managing all procedures regarding employment changes
* the industries: assisting them in properly managing their human resources and recognizing their specific role especially in critical situations
* the district: creating initiatives in order to avoid the risk of a cultural and professional impoverishment due to today's crisis

The project is promoted by:

Città Studi
A.Gio - Associazione verso l'A.Gio
CGIL-CISL-UIL
COREP - Consorzio per la ricerca e l'educazione permanente
Provincia di Biella
SRF - Società di Ricerca e Formazione
STS - Struttura tecnica di Supporto
UIB - Unione Industriale Biellese

The municipality of Biella is part of the network.

L3C is articulated in two macro phases: TASK FORCE AND LOGO
The project started in July 2005 and will end in 2007.

THE PROJECT

The occupational loss in the biellese sector has reached an alarming level of unemployment. During the course of these past years, the international scenario characterized by new emerging Asian competitors has severely penalized the Italian textile districts and the situation became even more dramatic with the free trade agreement on January 1, 2005. Due to pressures originated by a declining consumer's market, the industries have renounced their productive goals or have relocated in areas considered more beneficial which consequently lead to a reduction of the local employment. In the past, a company crisis did not have a particular social impact since the workers were soon after hired by a neighbouring company. Today, the entire sector is unable to offer employment opportunities. Very often, the critical state of a company reflects upon employees not capable of facing organizational changes which are necessary for today's market as well as, a widespread lack of interest and refusing to accept, for example, the opportunities offered for re-qualification and education in order to enhance their current position.
This causes an elevated risk of exclusion from the job market for a significant part of the biellesi workers and an overall impoverishment of the socio cultural level of the district.
The L3C project was created thanks to an emerging awareness from the workers' union and industrial representatives, as well as educational and research institutions and agencies active within the territory, to adopt appropriate (and joint) actions in order to end this serious phenomenon. The project was presented in 2004 and was approved by the Piemonte Region in 2005, it is currently on going.

TASK FORCE

The "TASK FORCE" phase focuses on stimulating and coordinating the network of partners involved in the project in order to develop new methods for territorial socio economic crisis management.
This phase is based upon match making of job offers and demand and upon an analysis of educational strategies currently present in the district, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses.
After this, a resource valorisation laboratory will be created, in order to became a reference point for the organizations already operating on the territory and thus already involved in the management of the phenomena considered in the project.
At the same time will be launched an education (training) action for the network experts to present the model and the role integration approach as well. The expertise targeted will be: labourer re-collocation expert, networking expert, training manager.
The experimentation is the core activity of Task Force, it will witness the activation of integrated information management models as well as new functional methodologies in order to manage the workers outcasting.
The results of the experimentation will strengthen the Local Network working strategy whose organizations will be entitled to supervise the action oriented to workers risking the job loss through integration of know how, experience and knowledge of the territory.
During all this macro phase it will be promoted the exchange of experiences and know how within the European partnership to better analyze and compare the management of work mobility and define best solutions to face the local crisis.

THE LOGO

The project offers the biellesi industries the opportunity to compare, experiment and increase dialogue on working methods inspired by a positive human resources management.

Above all, Logo suggests:

- to spread and consolidate the importance of the cultural and social role of the local industry
- to become a reference point for exchanging experiences, know-how and cultural growth
- to give full visibility to the local industries committed to protect and reinforce their professional heritage
- to rise awareness and use of methodologies aimed at increasing the competitiveness of enterprises through workers preparation

Achieving these goals is the main mission of "The Enterprise Club": a meeting point for all the industries of the biellese area who are prepared to defend the whole district, share the same ideas and ethics regarding human relationships management and redefining strategies and organizational models in order to deal with the challenges of today's globalization.

The Club is open to all industries who are aiming towards innovation and new business & communication strategies, also to industries who are in difficult situations provided that they are interested to mentioned subjects and are willing to share their activities and goals.
The Club's characteristics will be formulated in the Guide Lines in which will be indicated the mission, philosophy, tools and modality of intervention methods and criteria (i.e. parameters) required to adhere the system.
There will be promoted industrial and district policies based on Social Balance, on recover and development of competencies, on ethic responsibility of companies.

The Club, which represents a meeting point where to exchange information and share ideas and projects, will favour an improved job transfers management aimed at correctly placing personnel from oversized companies to companies where required.

JOB SEARCH KIT

The "Muoversi in Mobilità" * kit

The L3Club project has been created to deal with all issues concerning the workers, assisting them in evaluating and improving their skills and designing a strategy for a reintegration into the labour market.
The Public Administration Office of Biella along with the partners of the project decided to create a kit "Muoversi in Mobilità" * as a helpful tool of information and guide in seeking employment.
The kit is made up of a binder with rings in order to easily manage each file by inserting new material and useful information, as well as, directly updating all documentations.
The kit is distributed to people who participate in the educational programme at the Employment Centre of Biella.

* "Mobilità (Redundancy)" is a way to financially sustain the workers that lost their job (i.e. fired) and aiming at assisting the worker towards a new occupation.

STUDIES AND RESEARCH

L3C offers the possibility to individuals who are interested in having access to documents and studies carried out by organizations and research institutes regarding the socio economic situation in the textile sector and the biellese area including strategies concerning crisis management and job market management.