The Cordoba jewelry company adds a new tool to modernize its business fabric and strengthen its leadership. The Andalusian Regional Government has launched a High-Performance Business Center (CARE) in Córdoba specifically for the sector, designed as an intensive training and support program for SMEs and professionals.
This new Jewelry CARE is being developed in the Jewelry Park of Córdoba and at the School of Jewelry, two leading institutions in the sector. The initiative aims to help companies take a significant leap forward in digitalization, management, and international outreach, making the most of public resources allocated to economic transformation.
A specialized center for a strategic sector in Córdoba
The call CARE Jewelry It was officially presented at the Córdoba School of Jewelry, with the participation of the regional delegates for Economy and Employment, AgustÃn López and MarÃa Dolores Gálvez, respectively. Representatives from the School of Industrial Organization (EOI), Digital Agency of Andalusia (ADA) and several companies in the jewelry sector that have already expressed interest in the program.
As the Board explained, the center originated from the combined efforts between administrations To bolster an area considered strategic in the province: the jewelry industry, historically linked to employment and Córdoba's international profile. The program is exclusively focused on this sector, allowing the content to be tailored to the specific realities of the workshops, factories, and businesses within it.
The Jewelry CARE is conceived as a High-Performance Business Center It goes beyond conventional training. The idea is to closely support decision-makers within companies—managers, department heads, and entrepreneurs—so they can implement real changes in their organizations, both in terms of technology and processes, costs, and business strategy.
For the economic and labor authorities in Córdoba, placing this initiative in the Jewelry ParkConsidered the largest European space dedicated exclusively to jewelry, it guarantees a significant impact. In the words of the Employment delegation, the combination of tradition and new technologies This environment makes it easier for Cordoba's jewelry industry to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding global market.
The regional government has insisted that the jewelry sector is a pillar of the provincial economynot only because of the direct employment it generates, but also because of its ability to influence other areas such as design, logistics, international marketing or even tourism linked to crafts and luxury.
Public funding and free access for businesses and professionals
One of the highlights of the Jewelry CARE program is that its participation is completely free for companies and workers who join the program. The initiative is funded by European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and from the Digital Agency of Andalusia itself, which allows us to offer a high-level itinerary at no direct cost to the productive sector.
The organization is in charge of the Industrial Organization School and the Digital Agency of Andalusia, in close collaboration with the Regional Government. This institutional alliance allows the center to have specialized teachersMentors with experience in digital transformation and internationalization, and a program adapted to the real needs of jewelry SMEs.
The program is scheduled to be launched on March 16.With a new edition aimed at companies in the province of Córdoba. Each call for proposals is designed for a limited number of participants, which facilitates close attention and individualized follow-up of business projects.
Previous editions of CARE initiatives linked to the province saw the participation of 19 companies, with a very high average rating, close to 4,8 points out of 5This data is used as a reference to show the positive reception that this type of program is having among companies seeking to professionalize and modernize their management.
The fact that it is free, combined with the eminently practical approach, is presented as an incentive for SMEs and self-employed professionals who might not be able to afford private consulting or advanced training, can access high-level content and support without incurring an additional financial burden.
Structure and methodology of the Jewelry CARE
The Jewelry CARE program is organized around a schedule of approximately 50 teaching hours spread over approximately three months. The structure combines face-to-face group sessions, personalized online tutoring, and optional specialization tracks based on the needs of each company.
First, the program includes 30 hours of mandatory in-person workshops which will be taught at the School of Jewelry. These workshops will cover key topics for the modern management of a jewelry business, with content such as Technological innovation applied to jewelryAccounting and cost analysis, the use of Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies, process automation through RPA, computer-aided design (CAD), data analytics and business intelligence, cybersecurity, and export-oriented business communication.
These sessions are in addition to 20 hours of one-on-one online mentoringEach participating company will have the support of a Project Mentor and specialists in different areas, with the aim of developing a competitiveness improvement plan adapted to their reality. This part of the program aims to translate theory into concrete decisions about work processes, technological investments, sales strategy, or expansion into new markets.
In addition, they offer 12 additional hours of optional specialization itineraries. After an initial assessment, a customized training path is designed that allows participants to delve deeper into the areas they consider priorities: from perfecting CAD tools to optimizing the supply chain or strengthening their digital presence in international markets.
Program managers insist that CARE functions as a business support ecosystemIt's not just about delivering technical content, but about supporting SMEs in the process of change, helping them to analyze their starting point, set realistic goals and implement concrete actions that can be measured in the short and medium term.
This combination of group training and individual mentoring aims to prevent knowledge from remaining confined to the classroom. The intention is for each company to leave the CARE program with a Roadmap clear to improve its productivity, its innovation capacity and its presence in foreign markets, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization.
Challenges for the jewelry sector: digitalization, costs, and international markets
During the presentation of CARE, the Economy delegate stressed that the specialization in jewelry responds to the need to directly address the main challenges of the sector in Córdoba. These include the professionalization of business management, rigorous cost control, advanced digitalization of production and commercial processes, and opening up to new markets.
In a context of increasing international competition, the Cordoba jewelry industry faces the challenge of maintain their artisan identity without abandoning technologies such as computer-aided design (CAD), robotic process automation (RPA), or data analytics to make decisions based on reliable and up-to-date information.
Cybersecurity has also become a growing concern. Many companies in the sector manage their designs, budgets, orders, and relationships with international clients and suppliers digitally, so the program incorporates specific content for this purpose. protect critical information and reduce risks arising from attacks or data leaks.
Another key aspect of CARE is the CapabilitiesCórdoba has a long history of exporting jewelry, but the authorities consider it necessary to strengthen training in the field. commercial communication, strategies for entering foreign markets, participation in international trade fairs and adaptation of products to different consumer profiles.
In this regard, it is emphasized that Cordoba's jewelry industry enjoys a well-established reputation, but it competes with production centers in other countries that have made rapid progress in technology and marketing. The CARE program aims to equip local SMEs with updated tools so that they can continue to stand out for quality, design and service in an increasingly globalized market.
Jewelry School and Jewelry Park: two pillars for training
The choice of Córdoba Jewelry School The choice of venue for the in-person sessions is no coincidence. This center has been training professionals in the sector in Spain for over three decades, adapting its programs to changes in production techniques, design trends, and regulatory requirements.
The Employment Delegate highlighted that hosting the Jewelry CARE means strengthen the mission The School's mission extends beyond initial training for new professionals; it also serves those already working in companies and holding managerial or technical positions. The goal is to enable these individuals to update their skills and lead change processes within their organizations.
On the other hand, the location in the Jewelry Park of Córdoba It provides a real-world business environment that brings together workshops, manufacturers, marketing companies, and support services. This ecosystem facilitates a direct connection between training content and the specific needs of daily operations, from production to distribution and sales.
The combination of a leading training center and a specialized business park creates a favorable environment for test new solutionsto share experiences among companies and generate synergies among stakeholders in the sector. For the Board, this approach helps maximize the impact of public resources invested in the program.
Furthermore, the Jewelry Park is considered a significant showcase on a European scale. Its size and specialization make it an ideal setting for pilot projects in digitalization, sustainability initiatives, or collective actions to promote the Cordoba jewelry cluster internationally.
Integration into the AndalucÃa Vuela Technological Nodes
The Jewelry CARE is part of the network of Technological Hubs of Andalusia FlyThis regional initiative coordinates various programs aimed at SMEs, digital entrepreneurs, and unemployed young people. The network's purpose is to promote... digitization and economic development in all Andalusian provinces.
Within this strategy, CAREs are conceived as specific actions targeted at sectors considered priorities in each territory. In the case of Córdoba, jewelry has been one of the sectors selected due to its importance in employment, its tradition, and its growth potential if advanced technologies and new business models are incorporated.
The framework agreement provides for the implementation of 16 CARE actions in various Andalusian provinces. To date, nine editions have already been held, while other editions are in the participant recruitment phase in places such as Córdoba (in its version focused on jewelry), Huelva, Cádiz, Linares (Jaén), Granada, Puente Genil and soon Vélez-Málaga.
Each of these editions is designed for around 20 participants, with an estimated cost per person of around 3.700 Eurosfunded with European and regional public funds. The intention is for these types of programs to become a structural lever of business transformation, and not in isolated actions disconnected from each other.
Within this framework, the Jewelry CARE is conceived as one more piece of a regional strategy that focuses on the dissemination of digital skills, the strengthening of competitiveness and the generation of quality employment in sectors with territorial roots.
Expected impact on the competitiveness of the jewelry sector
The administrations involved agree that the ultimate goal of the Jewelry CARE is strengthening the business fabric of the province. This involves improving production efficiency, optimizing cost control, professionalizing management, boosting exports, and designing sustainable growth plans for SMEs.
By equipping companies with advanced tools in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, automation, data analysis, and cybersecurity, it is expected that workshops and factories in the sector will be able to increase your productivity without sacrificing the quality and design standards that characterize Cordoba jewelry.
The program's organizers also emphasize the importance of the sustainability as a pillar of the new model. Efficient resource management, energy optimization, the materials traceability And compliance with environmental regulations are aspects that are increasingly valued by distributors and consumers, both in Spain and in other European markets.
At the same time, the personalized support offered by CARE aims to help companies translate training into strategic decisions Specifics: from investment in new equipment to opening online sales channels or participating in international trade fairs in the sector.
With this high-performance center, the Andalusian Regional Government, the Digital Agency, and the School of Industrial Organization aim to consolidate Córdoba's position as a European leader in jewelry, but with more technologically advanced companies, better prepared to compete abroad, and with a long-term vision based on innovation, digitalization and sustainable growth.
