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The European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the difficulties on finding workers with skills on Green and Digital Transitions. More specifically, the latest figures from Eurostat suggest that only 37% of adults undertake training on a regular basis. For this reason, the European Commission declare 2023 as the year of Skills. The statistics show more evidences and raise concerns regarding the professional development of youth and seniors which is underdeveloped and insufficient. Based on the actions of the European Commision and the issues that need to be addressed, we can estimate what's coming forth for the development of firms/organizations and individuals. Why is important to evaluate what's coming into action? -Schemes and programmes will be developed by relevant Government Bodies to improve the Skills of individuals/employees that will contribute in return to companies’ improvements and innovation at the pillars of Green and Digital Transition. -SMEs that have available De Minimis subsidies and are trying to implement a strategy for the areas of Green and Digital Transition, are better to postpone relevant projects in order to reap the benefits of the new national schemes and programmes. -Taking advantage of these insights is key to deliver sustained outcomes for business innovation and environmental sustainability -Another purpose of the EU action plan is to develop skills that will assist to the decrease of the unemployment rate at relevant labor markets. It has been evidenced that due to unskilled employees there is a high demand for foreign workers that master knowledge on the relevant fields. -If these new skills are considered a "trend" then the EU workforce will start mapping employment opportunities in companies/organizations that maintain some sort of green and digital upgrades so that it can stay relevant at the employment curve -Individuals should start becoming proactive and searching for upskilling their knowledge at these areas and realize that lifelong learning can improve their future employability The Green and Digital transition WILL impact the labour market and shape the economy,

EN: Creative Europe in 2023: supporting resilient cultural and creative sectors The Creative Europe program will continue to support the cultural and creative industries in 2023, taking into account the post-COVID environment's ongoing challenges. The work program for 2023 has a budget of €312 million, a significant increase from the previous year. The cultural and creative sectors will get about €90 million to aid their recovery and strengthening following the COVID-19 crisis. What you can expect from Creative Europe in 2023: Support to Ukraine Culture strand MEDIA strand Cross-sectoral strand

EN: CKT Business Consulting provides management and consulting services for the following programmes and schemes. Our team's experience in the listed programmes leads us to a 100% success rate of approval applications and subsidy payments. Human Resources Development Authority of Cyprus(HRDA): Single Scheme Training Programmes in Cyprus Single Scheme Training Programmes in Abroad Training Scheme for Long-term Unemployed in Businesses/Organizations Training Scheme for Graduates of Tertiary Education The Cyprus Human Resources Development Authority (HRDA) is a public law legal entity that began its work in 1979. On November 1, 1999, the Human Resources Development Law no. 125(I) of 1999 came into force. The mission of the HRDA is to create the conditions for planned and systematic training and development of the human resources of Cyprus, at all levels and in all sectors, to meet the needs of the economy within the framework of the social and economic policy of the state. Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry Digital Upgrade of Enterprises (De Minimis) Until 30.12.2022 or until the budget runs out Promoting saving and upgrading in SMEs and Non-profit Organisations (NGOs) (De Minimis) Until 30.12.2022 or until the budget is exhausted The mission of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry is to implement a comprehensive strategy for the transition to the green economy, through a multi-dimensional planning for green energy, for a smart and environmentally friendly industry, for strengthening Cyprus trade and exports, and for sustainable development of Cypriot hydrocarbon resources. Deputy Ministry of Tourism Grant Scheme for the Revitalization of Rural, Mountainous and Remote Areas through the Creation of Authentic Experiences to Enrich and Upgrade the Tourism Product. Applications will be accepted until November 30, 2022 or until the available budget is exhausted. Grant Scheme for Upgrading Traditional Places of Catering or Selling Traditional Food Products with the possibility of their inclusion in the "Taste Cyprus" Framework. Applications will be accepted until 11/30/2022 or until the available budget is exhausted, whichever comes first. Subsidy Scheme for Cultural/Artistic Events through the De Minimis Aid. The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until the relevant credits are exhausted. It will automatically renew for the following year, unless otherwise decided by the Service. Subsidy scheme for visitable handicraft and enogastronomy workshops in the context of the De Minimis Aid Rule. The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds. It will automatically renew for the following year, unless otherwise decided by the Service. Subsidy Scheme for providing financial support for organising international sporting events in Cyprus in the context of EU rules on de minimis aid (DE MINIMIS). The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds. It will be automatically renewed for the following year, unless otherwise decided by the Ministry of Tourism. Subsidy Scheme for the certification of recreational scuba diving service providers in Cyprus. The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds. It will be automatically renewed for the following year, unless otherwise decided by the Ministry of Tourism . Incentive Scheme towards the Hospitality of cruise-ships in Cyprus according to the EU Regulations (De minimis). The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds without prior warning. It will be automatically renewed for the following year, unless otherwise decided by the Ministry of Tourism. Subsidy Scheme To Foreign Sports Teams, Clubs And Associations For Training And Preparation In Cyprus In The Context Of The Eu Regulations On De Minimis Rules The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds. Subsidy Scheme For Organising Familiarization Trips To Cyprus For Special Interest Tourism. The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds. It will be automatically renewed for the following year, unless otherwise decided by the Ministry of Tourism Grant Scheme for the creation, upgrading of infrastructure / facilities with the aim of upgrading the offered product related to special forms of tourism (De Minimis). The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds. It will be automatically renewed for the following year unless otherwise decided by the Ministry of Tourism. Grant Scheme for the digital transition of providers of special forms of tourism based on de minimis aid. The scheme will be effective annually, until December 31 of each year or until exhaustion of the available funds. It will be automatically renewed for the following year unless decided otherwise by the Deputy Ministry. According to the Law, the objective of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism is to establish a strategic and supervisory authority with powers to develop a national strategy for tourism, promotion and projection of Cyprus as a tourist destination, as well as implementation of tourism legislation with the following, among other, main responsibilities: - Establishment, coordination and implementation of an integrated National Tourism Strategy using the necessary horizontal policies. - Support investment in Tourism. - Promotion of tourist awareness, education and training. - Implementation of tourism legislation and supervision of the tourism sector.

The Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry has announced a new scheme for the digital transformation/transition/upgrade of existing or new SMEs who will implement expenses in the category of digital upgrading including e-commerce/shop and/or the application of advanced digital technologies. The intensity of the subsidy amounts to 50% of the eligible costs of the proposal with a maximum sponsorship amount of €50,000 and can cover costs for equipment required for the digital upgrade, “off the shelf” software, specialized software, systems, programs and IT services, as well as other digital upgrade costs that are not directly related to IT systems . In the case of companies that are established or will be established in mountain, rural and disadvantaged areas , the intensity of the subsidy can rise up to 60% of the eligible costs of the proposal with a maximum sponsorship amount of €60,000. It is noted that applications/proposals can only be submitted online through the website http://fundingapps.mcit.gov.cy during the proposal submission period. Some Quick Guidelines on the Digital Transformation Scheme: Policy and Guidelines of the scheme here Application Sample here List of necessary documentation here *Information extracted from the website of the Service of Industry and Technology

EN: Eligible companies for participation are existing small and medium-sized enterprises that will implement expenses in the category of digital upgrading (including e-commerce), as well as new small, and medium-sized enterprises whose investment proposal necessarily includes e-commerce/shop and/or the application of advanced digital technologies. The intensity of the subsidy amounts to 50% of the eligible budget of the proposal with a maximum subsidy amount of €50,000 and can cover expenses for: - Equipment required for the digital upgrade. - "off the shelf" software. - Specialized software. - IT systems, programs and services, - as well as other digital upgrade costs not directly related to IT systems. In the case of companies that are established or will be established in mountainous and disadvantaged areas, the intensity of the sponsorship amounts to 60% of the eligible budget of the proposal with a maximum sponsorship amount of €60,000. Our services that support the Scheme: Technical equipment such as supply of Network equipment (Routers, Firewalls, WAFs, Load Balancers), Servers (Servers, Bladeservers), Storage Networks (SAN), Gateways and Ups. Other special equipment such as bar code readers, depending on the needs and activity of the business. Services for other Digital Upgrade expenses such as digital advertising/promotion [digital marketing, presence on social media (Social media), creation of videos to present the company's products, creation of digital content, etc.] Services of Consultants/Advisors for: a) the analysis of the applicant's needs and the correct guidance for adopting the best solution regarding the digital upgrade / digital transformation and b) the preparation for submission and/or overall management of the application The maximum eligible cost for the Consultants/Researchers category amounts to €1000. It is emphasized that the Consultant/Advisor may NOT be a provider/supplier of the products/services included in the investment proposal Create online store Training for the proper maintenance and management of electronic platforms & off the shelf software

For the employee, Competency Mapping can also be considered as a professional career map (career mapping) which can be a motivation for faster achievement of goals and efficiency in his work. Competency Mapping is the process of identifying a set of employee skills and development opportunities. This process can help employees better understand their strengths and weaknesses and highlight areas where they can improve their capabilities. The method of Competency Mapping allows companies, first, to develop the current capabilities of their employees and, second, to indicate to them the limit they need to reach. These activities help companies identify specific areas of learning and development of employees and, align their set of skills with the company's strategic goals in the short, medium and long term (Strategic Human Resource Management). If we have to ask what size of business Competency Mapping should be applied to, my answer would definitely be small businesses. Undoubtedly, no one can deny that it should be applied to large companies as well, but small ones face greater challenges due to their small number of employees. The importance of the Competency Mapping process comes from the fact that the provision of information to employees is specific and the feedback is actively done in order to facilitate professional development. The positive impact that results from this function is that the employee feels that his role and his contribution to the company are recognized. Interrelatedly, recognition strengthens the employee's positive contribution to the company, the creation of a positive work culture environment as well as the retention of employees in the company. Apart from the aforementioned, there are other specific benefits for both the employee and the company. For the employee, Competency Mapping can also be considered as a professional career map (career mapping) which can be a motivation for him. The employee is able to recognize the advancement and promotion of his career at the various stages of his career path. This creates motivation for the employee towards the effective and faster achievement of his professional goals. In addition, it indicates to the employee his gaps and "flaws", offering him, not only his needs for development but also, the clarification of the resources and requirements needed for his desired development. Regarding the benefits that arise for the company through Competency Mapping, and in relation to the benefits of the employee that were mentioned, the creation of clear career requirements for employees causes better execution of processes and better intra-company service (internal customer support). The professional goals set for each employee create an increase in productivity and improvement in employee retention & engagement. According to the theory of William Kahn (William Kahn), 1990, people who tend to be committed to their work can contribute three different levels of themselves. These are Physical commitment: they put physical and mental effort into their work with increased feelings of self-confidence Cognitive engagement: they attribute meaning to their work as they are encouraged by creativity and recognition of their contribution to the business's professional goals Emotional commitment: they develop an emotional connection to their work when they feel they "belong to the team". This encourages employees to commit to the company's values and work practices. Therefore, the three levels can affect their work experiences and productivity. In summary, Competency Mapping ensures the full exploitation of the most important resource in a business, and that is human capital. It ensures people their professional development and the possibility to become good at what suits them. In this process, the employee is recruited holistically, and not collectively, within the company. Competency mapping turns competent workers into excellent professionals! #competencymapping #humanresourcemanagement #cyprusconsultants #SHRM #b2bcyprus #employeeretention #employeeexperience #employeeengagement #career #careermapping #careermappingcyprus #learninganddevelopment #learningexperiencedesign #ckt #cktbusiness #cktbusinessconsulting #cktb2b #cktcyprus

Transforming Workplaces: The D’Driven Erasmus+ Project Launched to Support Deaf-Friendly Environments Date: 03/10/2022 The D’Driven Project has officially commenced, marking a significant step toward transforming businesses into deaf-friendly environments. This ambitious initiative is designed to empower both employers and Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals by fostering a more inclusive workplace culture. Through an innovative dual-curricula approach and the establishment of a dedicated hiring pool, the project seeks to bridge the employment gap and redefine accessibility in modern organizations. Online Sign-language Communication Led by the University of Deusto in Spain and supported by a consortium of six partners from Cyprus, Turkey, Romania, and Italy, the project will span 28 months with a budget of €250,000, funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Programme. This multinational collaboration ensures a comprehensive and culturally sensitive approach to workplace inclusion, ensuring that the needs of diverse populations are addressed effectively. The D’Driven Erasmus+ Project is dedicated in creating an asynchronous learning platform, providing employers with essential tools and strategies to enhance inclusivity. This platform will include comprehensive training materials, real-life case studies, and interactive resources that will enable businesses to seamlessly integrate DHH employees into their workforce. By fostering an environment of understanding and support, the project aims to make inclusivity a standard practice rather than an exception. The initiative also places significant emphasis on awareness and education, ensuring that both employers and employees recognize the value of diversity in the workplace. Through targeted training sessions, businesses will learn how to adopt best practices for hiring, training, and retaining DHH employees. Meanwhile, DHH individuals will be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to confidently navigate professional settings, empowering them to thrive in their chosen careers. More information will be available shortly on the project's social media and dedicated website.