Provadis trains and educates young adults on behalf of companies which take on vocational trainees. This includes organising and overseeing the project as well as accompanying the participants to England and and France and looking after them during their stay. In this regard, Provadis is supported by INSUP (Insup Formation – our partner organisation in France) and T.T.P.L. (The Training Partnership Limited - our partner organisation in England). The basis of this partnership is the long-standing successful cooperation with T.T.P.L. on similar projects. The participants are young adults currently undergoing vocational training in commercial, technical, scientific and IT occupations in the dual vocational training system in accordance with the Federal Institute of Vocational Education and Training. Participation in the project is voluntary providing the trainees have the necessary language skills and have taken part in language and intercultural training. All participants are in their first year of training.Together with our partners we aim to improve the qualifications of these future employees in the areas of language, cultural and personal competences. As we feel this should take place at the beginning of their professional careers, the programme is embedded in the participants’ initial training. We draw particular attention to the fact that the foreign language business assistants take part as a group. The main focus of the vocational training as a foreign language business assistant is to master a high level of English. At the same time we offer vocational trainees in other occupations the opportunity to participate if their language skills are sufficient. Preliminary knowledge of English/ French is a definite requirement for the participation in work placements and accommodation with host families in England /France.This project offers the participants the opportunity to expand their foreign language skills by applying them on a daily basis and it enables them to overcome their inhibitions about speaking. Furthermore, the participants gain competence in the areas of customer orientation, independence, flexibility, initiative and self-confidence.Preparations for the project began in November 2015. The actual dates of the project are from 17.07. to 06.08.2016 and from 09.10. to 29.10.2016 (both in England) and from 16.10. to 05.11 2016 in France. The participants will be staying with host families in Bordeaux, France or Torquay, England and will either be doing three-week work placements or will take part in a one-week English or French course followed by a two-week work placement, the latter being in the service industry or the social service sector. The follow-up activities will be completed by the end of 2016.There will be 125 trainees taking part in the project.