EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - BIG Bruck

BIG Bruck – Kapfenbrug, AU

Introduction

BIG-Bruck provides transit work places in the fields of crafts (improvement of urban local areas, works in public interest), ecology (maintenance of public parks, cleaning of river banks, support in environment issues) and office (EDP-services, general office activities, mass-mailing, telework-places).

Orders come primarily from public authorities, are carried out in-house (especially clerical work) or externally (in the crafts field). The duration of the orders varies between 1 day and several months. Orders depend on the skills and qualifications of the transit workers. The measure targets in particular at long-term unemployed people, who shall be enabled to return to employment. They are offered internal and external training measures and assistance and counselling concerning social and personal problems.

Problem

The service-corporation provides employment and training during one transit year in the crafts, environment and office services sector and offers need-oriented qualification. It links (long-term) unemployed people on one side with local enterprises, non profit organisations on the other side. These measures are a pro-active way to reduce unemployment and promote regional development.

Description

The project has emerged from an employment initiative in the crafts sector (the renovation of the castle of Kapfenberg), Initiators were the City of Kapfenberg together with BIG (an association of 21 rural communes of the political district Bruck/Mur) and the Regional Government of Styria. This crafts-project had to end after 4 years because of financial reasons. As there were no specific measures taken for unemployed women of the region, concepts for initiatives for women wanting to return to employment in the office management field were developed.

Labour Market Service suggested to connect the existing separate initiatives and thus facilitate organisation and clear up competencies. The initial preparation phase took 2 months and was subsidised by the Labour Market Service. 3 persons were involved in the planning. An inquiry on demands was carried out and the municipalities were addressed as clients. Problems emerged from the part of the Chamber of Commerce due to their fear of competition. From August 1994 until February 1995 respective negotiations took place before the project could be started in April 1996.

Approach

Participants of the age of 19-50 years are employed for one year. There is an entrance test (in the office sector) and one probation month, clearing up problems and the willingness to work (drop-out-rate: 20-25%). By working in the various fields of services participants can find out their preferences. Additional guiding is given if needed, but help aims primarily at self-help. Contacts with other local companies facilitate the transition to a regular and durable employment. Individual coaching is provided to support active search for employment.

Results

Social and Indirect Effects
General objective is to counteract negative aspects of structural change in the region, to develop measures and activities against unemployment and work migration. Impact of the initiative can be seen in the qualification measures concerning the requirements of local private enterprises and also in improving settlement of new enterprises in the region (which can work with qualified personnel), creation of durable employment, general promotion of regional development. An innovative regional aspect is the supply of services in the office sector (personnel leasing). Innovative in Austria is the specific legal construction: all municipalities of the political district Bruck/Mur are included as members of the service-business-corporation.

Assessment-Innovation-transferability
In the province of Styria several employment and service-business-corporations are constructed according to the innovative model of BIG-Bruck. Some of these corporations work in other fields of services, but they are oriented along the concept of the BIG. Transferability is thus given. There are regular visits of representatives of other initiatives, BIG-corporation offers advice and counselling for the development and realisation of concepts. Assessment is planned and will be carried out by the Institut für Arbeitsmarktbetreuung (IFA), this institute has developed an assessment-concept for employment and service-business corporations.

Prospects
A telework-project has been submitted which shall be carried out in the framework of TELEKIS. It is planned to be trend-setting also in this field. Furthermore it is projected to start telemarketing; presently respective negotiations are running with another company. In general, the office-sector tends to be extended whereas the crafts-sector will be reduced (not least due to the bigger chances to find employment for the office-workers). Another plan is to achieve economical independence, eventually to change into a regular professional personnel leasing enterprise.

Contact info

BIG Bruck
Mr. Herbert Rakowsky (Manager), tel. +43 3 862 8989 120

Project start date

01/04/1996

Links

Visit the BIG Bruck website Visit the LOCIN website Read more on the LOCIN initiative

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Employment