Philips 2010 Annual Report Download - page 54

4 Our planet, our partners, our people 4.5 - 4.5
54 Annual Report 2010
are practical and aligned with our business needs. The
modules range from five-minute videos to one-minute
action tips and easy-to-read PDFs. This makes it easier
than ever for Philips people at all levels to develop new
skills and move their careers forward.
Securing a better future
These latest initiatives to help our people develop and
reach their potential are part of our global activities in the
area of corporate social responsibility. In the Netherlands,
for instance, we have for many years played a pioneering
role with our national Vocational Qualification Program
(CV) and the Philips Employment Scheme (WGP).
The CV project has been running since 2004 and targets
Philips employees who know their trade well, but do not
have a diploma to prove it. That makes them vulnerable in
today’s volatile labor market, where a job for life is a thing
of the past. CV provides a solution by awarding these
people a recognized qualification. To date, more than
1,500 participants have obtained a qualification that will
help set them up for the future – either within Philips or
elsewhere.
Via WGP, we offer vulnerable groups of external
jobseekers work experience placements, usually
combined with some form of training, in order to increase
their chances of finding and retaining a job. Over the 25
years that we have been running WGP, an average of 70%
of the participants have found paid work within one year
of completing our WGP program. Moreover, a recent
doctoral research carried out by the University of
Maastricht has revealed that it is still the best-performing
employment scheme in the Netherlands.