Digital media is a new, engaging and effective learning opportunity for low-qualified employees in small SMEs. In many countries, the formal education level of employees is still comparatively weak. Migration in Europe has led to an inflow of additional learners and employees who often have low levels of competence in written ‘educational’ language, in spite of good practical skills. Digital media can help to overcome the language barriers to learning by using more audio, video and visual material to support learning, and through working with practical materials in VET training institutions. Many VET trainers and SMEs, however, lack even basic digital competencies which they would need to produce digital learning material or to use the media young learners actually use (smartphone applications, social networks, etc) for learning purposes.

When organising their own in-company learning, SMEs must use digital media including pictures, visual instructions, well-designed short instructional texts, and video and audio formats, in order to reach out to low-qualified employees for whom reading long and complex texts may not be the preferable method of learning.

Often owners and managers of SMEs have not been educated in the effective use of digital media.

Nevertheless, they act as the main source of training for their employees. Up to now owners, managers and trainers in small SMEs have frequently not caught up in developing their digital media skills. Small SMEs, particularly in more peripheral areas, lack the resources and time to attend training requiring a physical presence over long periods.

As a consequence, they lack the competencies to fully exploit the potential of competent use of digital media for training their staff.