Upskilling in the recession : the ProAct short-time working scheme in Wales (UK)

ProAct is a £48 million programme launched by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) in response to the economic crisis. Through social partner engagement, the Welsh Assembly Government developed and implemented the ProAct initiative in a matter of two to three months with the aim of helping businesses cope with the downturn and develop their employees’ skills. This case study assesses the effectiveness of the ProAct initiative in terms of keeping workers in employment and supporting local businesses in economically difficult times. Emphasis is given to the role of social partner engagement throughout the inception and delivery phases of the programme.