QualiProSecondHand

Project content and objectives

The second-hand market has been one of the growing markets in Europe for many years. New EU directives, but also changed purchasing behaviour in society, have enabled the second-hand market to develop into an independent sector. The increasing professionalisation and the demand for sector-specific, recognised qualifications are the focus of the research project “QualiProSecondHand”. The second-hand sector considered in the project comprises the commercial trade and the non-profit distribution of used goods of any product type and category, as well as the associated main tasks such as procurement of goods, reconditioning of goods and their (re)introduction into the goods cycle with the aim of returning the used goods to their original purpose. The focus is on the classic trade in used goods, whereby the project draws a clear distinction from the trade in real estate, antiques and motor vehicles, which belong to separate markets.

The QualiProSecondHand project, which brings together partners from 7 European countries, has set itself the goal of using vocational research instruments not only to examine the second-hand sector as such, but in particular to analyse precisely the sector-specific requirements placed on employees in order to develop concepts for a European qualification profile on this basis. By developing needs-based and future-oriented qualification concepts, the professionalisation of the sector is to be further advanced and quality improved. In the long term, initial approaches for the development of sector-specific initial vocational training are to be elaborated.

Method

To analyse the second-hand sector in Europe, a vocational research design with the following methods is used:
• Sector analyses (identification of sector structures, employment structures, economic development, training and qualification structures, changes in tasks and their parameters),
• Case studies (examination of company workflows, work processes, work tasks, work requirements as well as company organisations and structures, identification of qualification strategies and needs),
• Expert workshops where appropriate (examination of sector structures and company workflows, processes and tasks as well as work requirements and qualification needs).

Results/publications

1. Sector analysis report on structure, employment and qualification in the second-hand sector in Europe (soon available as a working paper)
2. Good practice report on training and qualification structures, qualification strategies, requirements and needs as well as work processes and tasks in the second-hand sector in Europe (soon available as a working paper)
3. Concept for the development of qualification profiles in initial vocational training in the second-hand sector
4. Quality standards for qualification concepts with a focus on staff development
5. Proposals for a network design to strengthen professionalisation processes
6. Platform for the exchange of experience and information