A new publication of the European Network of Public Employment Services (PES Network) presents the increasing necessity and evolving nature of PES partnerships for effectively meeting modern labour market needs. Its highlights include the need for flexible approaches and the increasing added value of including clients in the design of services.

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The new Thematic Paper on PES Partnership Management recognises the ongoing evolution of many PES from being public monopolies to multi-actor systems in which an increasing number of valuable partnerships are established. For example, supporting the long-term unemployed and implementing the Youth Guarantee can be enhanced through partnerships with other social and educational support providers in order to offer holistic services.

The paper argues that dynamic, flexible partnerships offer the greatest potential to optimise the success and efficiency of these relationships. It is both desirable and possible for PES to adopt an à la carte approach to select the most appropriate models of partnership management for different services.

In this context, co-creation is becoming increasingly valuable as an approach for delivering success, recognising both the potential and necessity to include clients in the design of services. In particular, this can support PES to respond effectively to the evolving needs and expectations of some customers.

The main factors for a successful partnership are identified as a positive environment and partner commitment, resulting in an overall culture of cooperation. To take advantage of such opportunities, both management and staff need to develop partnership working skills and take advantage of digital opportunities for collaboration.

These findings emerged from a series of three meetings of a PES Network Working Group on Partnership Management, which ran between March and May 2020. Read the full paper to see the four models of PES partnership management identified by this group and how SMART measures can be applied to assess, improve and even aim to future-proof existing partnerships.