Improving young people employment opportunities in the CB tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-06-07

Description

Description (EN):

Young people have been affected in terms of employment, education, training, and mental well-being by the damage and instability of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recovery crushed by the Ukrainian war. They are exposed to higher risks of unemployment, face strong uncertainties in labour market entry and stable integration. In particular, young people in CB rural areas face a double challenge. The objective of the Tour4Youth project is to improve employment opportunities of young people living in CB rural areas on CB labour market. The project focuses on tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors, which social role in accompanying young people into the labour market is crucial. These sectors are also a lifeline for employment in rural areas due to structural changes in rural employment landscape. The main target groups are unemployed young people with a relevant degree, young people graduating with the risk of unemployment or dropping out their studies. The project increases their skills in career management and job search, ensures a smoother transition from education to work, provides opportunities to access quality employment and get work experience to build a resilient career. This, in turn, encourages them to get bound to rural areas and establish their life in their community. The project makes a fundamental change in youth employment. Its main result is a concrete number (n=100) of young people with increased competitiveness on labour market. To achieve this, various labour market services are provided: 1) a training course in career management and job seeking, 2) labour market matchmaking services, and 3) short-time work schemes locally and cross-borders. The novelty value lies in the project approach to provide to this lockdown generation living in CB rural areas individualised, holistic, and sector-specific support in cross-border and multi-actor collaboration throughout their journey beyond the current standard procedures.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Highlights: - SAMK conducted the project management and communications management for the project, prepared the Project Modification, and took responsibility of WP1 starting December 2023. - KPR participated in all project activities, prepared an Action plan for local job matching events, and also a template design for information collected about the vacancies and next students, in collaboration with other project partners. - ViA participated in all project activities, developed a roadmap of WP3 implementation with clearly assigned roles and responsibilities of each partner within the work package. In addition, ViA initiated a draft version of the Work Scheme implementation handbook. - TE Office participated in all project activities, integrated the Tour4Youth into their work, for example in EURES Satakunta meetings. In addition, TE Office contributed also by engaging the employers in the hotel, restaurant and tourism sectors to the project by utilising their registers to contact the employers. - VOCO withdrew from the project in November 2024. SAMK as the lead partner has led the project management and communication of the project. From the start of the project, the project partners were involved in the activities and they were guided in project management, communications, and financing. These included e.g. guidance to the project aims, target groups, reporting, managing the work packages and their schedules, staffing, project reporting, documentation, contracts, responsibilities, project guides and guidelines, manhour reporting, activities, outputs, and their reporting. The project kick-off meeting was held in Pori, Finland on 28.-30.8.2023, to which all the project partners attended. The meeting included kicking off work packages 1 and 3. The schedule, activities, deliverables, and outputs were discussed. Continuing from that, the actions concerning delivering these items were highlighted. The discussion brought up some differences in the country-specific regulations and legislation, which are to be taken into account in the practices in the implementation processes. The Steering Group was formed, and the first meeting was held online on 20.9.2023, and the second as an email meeting on 16.-19.1.2024, in which the SG approved the project modification. First progress meeting was held in Tallinn, Estonia on 9.-11.1.2024. All active project partners attended to the meeting. Due to the change of the Estonian partner, the meeting location was changed from Tartu to Tallinn to ensure good progress and atmosphere, and SAMK organised the meeting. WP 2 was kicked off and implementing WP1 and WP3 progressed through practical and processual details. In addition, project management, communications, project modification, reporting, and output reporting were addressed. A project communication plan as part of the Detailed Management Plan was created. First, to ensure fluent communication and mutual understanding, regular project meetings were organised. The PM team representing the project managers of each partner started their monthly meetings on 2.10.2023 and continued on 6.11.2023, 4.12.2023, and 9.-11.1.2024 in the progress meeting. In addition, the monthly WP progress meetings started on 29.9.2023 and continued on 19.10.2023, 23.11.2023 and 25.1.2024. All partners attended these meetings. Second, communicative actions were taken by each project partner. Material production was initiated by the lead partner responsible of communications in collaboration with all partners. A project poster was produced. A media release of the project was sent in September. A shared project space in Google Drive was created. The CB webspace was updated. A project flyer in English and local languages was created and distributed by the partners to promote the program. Also, each partner inserted information about the program to their webpages. Service provider was selected to produce the communication materials. KPR created the joint Facebook-page for Tour4Youth to market the program. SAMK produced two research articles about the project for expert audiences, two newsletters for national and international networks, and several social media posts. Third, in addition to the regular meetings, email discussions among the project team have been continuous and regular. Following the communication activities in the project, collaboration with stakeholders, target groups, networks, educational institutions, and organisations were established. This was to raise awareness of the program. Collaboration with the SAMK teaching, traineeship, and international affairs personnel was established. Other stakeholders, like regional educational centers, international houses, organisations and companies in the tourism sector, employment offices both private and public, and NGOs were contacted. Collaboration among the stakeholders shall continue in advancing the project in meeting the aims and achieving the outputs.

Project outputs: A training course in career management and job seeking(EN)
Local and CB level matchmaking to connect job seekers with vacancies(EN)
Short-time work schemes (EN)
Website: https://centralbaltic.eu/

Thematic information

Labour market and employment Education and training

Priority: (VI-A_CB_P3) Improved employment opportunities

Priority specific objective: RSO4.1. Enhancing the effectiveness and inclusiveness of labour markets and access to quality employment through developing social infrastructure and promoting social economy

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO4 A more social and inclusive Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights

Type of intervention: 136 Specific support for youth employment and socio-economic integration of young people

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: Satakunnan Ammattikorkeakoulu

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI23889244

Department: Center for Tourism Business Development

Address: Satakunnankatu, 28130 Pori, Finland

Department address: Satakunnankatu, 28130 Pori, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.samk.fi/en

Total budget: EUR 375 758.20

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 300 606.56

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 75 151.64

Vidzemes Augstskola (ViA)

Name: Vidzemes Augstskola (ViA)

Department: Knowledge and Technology centre

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV90001342592

Address: Cesu str., LV - 4201 Valmiera, Latvia

Department address: Cesu str., LV - 4201 Valmiera, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.va.lv

Total budget: EUR 128 306.66

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 102 645.32

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 25 661.34

Contractors:

Name: Laura
VAT registration or tax identification number: 0.24

Kurzemes Planošanas Reģions

Name: Kurzemes Planošanas Reģions

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 90002183562

Address: Avotu , LV - 3801 Saldus, Latvia

Department address: Avotu, LV-3801 Saldus, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.kurzemesregions.lv

Total budget: EUR 120 239.22

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 96 191.37

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 24 047.85

Contractors:

Name: Piektdien Piektajā Piecos
VAT registration or tax identification number: 90003723829427

Pärnumaa Kutsehariduskeskus

Name: Pärnumaa Kutsehariduskeskus

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100847053

Address: Niidupargi , 80047 Pärnu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: https://www.hariduskeskus.ee

Total budget: EUR 100 470.33

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 80 376.26

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 094.07

Satakunnan Työ- ja elinkeinotoimisto

Name: Satakunnan Työ- ja elinkeinotoimisto

Department: Business services and EURES

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 2296962-1

Address: Teljänkatu, 28100 Pori, Finland

Department address: Teljänkatu, 28100 Pori, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.te-services.fi

Total budget: EUR 54 895.22

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 43 916.17

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 10 979.05

Tartu Rakenduslik Kolledž

Name: Tartu Rakenduslik Kolledž

Department: Catering and Tourism

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100786499

Address: Kopli, 50115 Tartu, Estonia

Department address: Kopli, 50115 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.voco.ee

Total budget: EUR 2 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 1 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 400.00

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Improving young people employment opportunities in the CB tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors

Project acronym: Tour4Youth

Project ID: CB0100003

Project start date: 2023-08-01

Project end date: 2025-10-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Interreg CB BOOSTED: Boosting Tourism Business Growth through Higher Vocational Education (EN) | Tour4Youth project continues the efforts started in the Interreg CB project BOOSTED (1.11.2016–31.10.2019): Boosting Tourism Business Growth through Higher Vocational Education, coordinated by SAMK and participated by ViA as well as other CB higher education institutions. Identifying future labour market needs and the needed skills has been accomplished in the project BOOSTED by interviewing more than 100 tourism, hospitality, and restaurant stakeholders in FI, EE, and LV. The skillset was translated into a VET curriculum: Boosting tourism business growth - Supporting the development of the Central Baltic area as a coherent tourism destination. The curriculum was tested with higher VET students in 2018-2019, and 131 course certificates were issued. Therefore, the needed thematic, professional skills in working life and curricula (e.g., marketing, customer service, product development) in tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors have already been identified and aligned with the target group.
Different stakeholders related to these sectors around the CB region involved in the CB project BOOSTED highlighted that not only the content of the curriculum but how the curriculum is delivered should be developed in the region. The Tour4Youth project answers to this call by developing innovative work schemes and workplace-based learning methods to integrate the young in the working life. In addition, the extensive networks established in the project BOOSTED in the CB region between educational institutions and employers have been established, which supports the implementation of the Tour4Youth project. (EN), EURES (EN) | EURES is the European cooperation network of employment services, designed to facilitate the free movement of workers. The network has always worked hard to ensure that European citizens can benefit from the same opportunities, despite language barriers, cultural differences, bureaucratic challenges, diverse employment laws and a lack of recognition of educational certificates across Europe. The Tour4Youth project utilises this cooperation network in FI, EE, and LV to reach unemployed young people and to increase their mobility in the CB region.
(EN), EU projects in employment, youth, education, and tourism (EN) | The project will make use of many other international projects and their results as well as networks related to employment, youth, education, tourism, and skills development led and implemented by the partners.
It will strongly benefit from the mapped skills and trainings developed in the following Erasmus+ projects:
1) Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership project SkillsS4CMT ”Sector-Specific Skills Development In Coastal And Maritime Tourism”
2) Erasmus+ KA3 policy experimentation project “Cooking for the Future- CORE”;
3) Erasmus+ KA2 project HYBAKE “Holiday pastries of different Europe nations”
4) Erasmus + KA2 project BALTIC VET “Skills competition in catering and food industry sectors for food technology and catering students”, and
5) Erasmus + KA2 project “RockTheGreens HUB”
Furthermore, the project will strongly benefit from the following tourism development projects implemented by the partners with the networks created:
1) Interreg BSR project BALTICBLUEMARINAS “Remote Baltic Marinas as Drivers for Sustainable Coastal and Maritime Tourism Development
2) Interreg Europe project BRANDTour “Building Regional Actions for New Developments in Tourism”
3) Interreg EST-LAT project EXPLORE BALTS “Cross-Border Itinerary cultural route Balt’s Road”,
4) Interreg EST-LAT project INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE “Revival of Industrial heritage for tourism development”
5) Interreg Latvija-Lietuva BUSINESS SUPPORT “Creating of business support system and the availability in Zemgale, Kurzeme and Lithuania.
The lessons learned in all these projects are now transferred into Tour4Youth project. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 781 669.63

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 625 335.68

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 625 335.68. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Test version of the training course in career management and job seeking
Marketing materials to recruit participants
Final version of the training course in career management and job seeking
Handbook for stakeholders to adopt the course
Report of local job matchmaking events
A report of CB level job matchmaking events
Handbook for work schemes
Summary report
Final seminar

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Tour4Youth project contributes to EUSBSR PA Education’s objective to improve transition from school to work and provide individualised support to improve access to employment for young people. The project also highlights PA Education’s emphasis on the development of flexible learning pathways, upskilling, and reskilling as well as promoting a labour market for all. The project also contributes to the PA Education’s aim to promote tailor-made vocational education and in-company training.
The project contributes to EUSBSR PA Tourism’s focus on investing in people in the selected sectors. It supports its goals to face the challenges of the tourism labor market and improve relevant skills for employability. The project also promotes its goals of closer cooperation with educational, training, and labour institutions on a transnational, and regional level.
Other EU LEVEL STRATEGIES:
Tour4Youth project is directly aligned with THE NEXT GENERATION EU: The Commission’s Proposal for the European Recovery. The proposal states that measures are needed to improve youth employment in tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors. The proposal notes that effective apprenticeships have a vital role to play in preserving and creating youth employment. The proposal suggests short-time work schemes, career management trainings, and apprenticeships as solutions to these challenges. The Tour4Youth project contributes directly to these goals with its activities.
Tour4Youth project contributes the aims of the EU YOUTH STRATEGY 2019–2027 to promote an accessible labour market with opportunities that lead to quality jobs for all young people. It also responds to the challenges highlighted by the strategy related to the lack of information and suitable skills for future employment, which are preventing young people to be fully integrated in the labour market.
EU YOUTH GUARANTEE is a commitment by all Member States to ensure that all young people under the age of 30 receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, apprenticeship, or traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving education. The Tour4Youth project supports directly with its activities the achievement of the EU Youth Guarantee.
Other NATIONAL STRATEGIES:
The Tour4Youth project supports the NATIONAL YOUTH WORK AND YOUTH POLICY PROGRAMME IN FINLAND, which reinforces the prerequisites of young people for smoothly running daily lives. This is achieved by guaranteeing access to education and employment. As stated in the Government programme, all young people aged under 25 years will be guaranteed a job or work trial, traineeship, or apprenticeship no later than three months into the period of unemployment. The project also contributes the aim of FINLAND'S TOURISM STRATEGY 2019–2028 to ensure access to skilled labour. Tour4Youth highlights its aims to promote the recruitment and employment in the tourism industry of international labour and strengthen and diversify flexible opportunities for competence development in a working life-oriented manner.
The project supports the achievement of the goals set out in the ESTONIA 2020 COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAMME. The central objective of the Programme is increasing employment in Estonia. The main focus is on education and employment, with an emphasis on the integration of the young people in the labour market and on the development of their skills. The selected sectors are identified as essential to achieve these goals. Responding to the programme, Tour4Youth project highlights the provision of high-quality education and youth work, the acquisition of early work experience, and the development of practical career studies. The project also contributes to ESTONIAN TOURISM STRATEGY 2025 and ESTONIAN EDUCATION STRATEGY 2035.
The Tour4Youth project is also in line with the LATVIAN YOUTH POLICY 2021 - 2027, Action no 4 - To facilitate learning the skills and competences needed for the labor market and independent living. This leads to result no 3 of the Policy: wider opportunities have been created for young people outside formal education to acquire the competencies necessary for independent living and the labor market.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR6 Number of people with increased competitiveness on labour market, Measurement unit: number of people

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 63 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

251 / 251 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

Improving young people employment opportunities in the CB tourism, hospitality, and restaurant sectors

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer