On the 21st of October Cleantech Bulgaria brought together European institutions, sector representatives and training stakeholders in Sofia for a conference addressing a central question: what, how and who will drive the skills revolution in construction? Participants from the European Commission, CEDEFOP, ETF, EVBB, ECTP and the EDIH network, among many others, discussed micro-credentials, green and digital skills, artificial intelligence in construction, women’s leadership in the sector and the upcoming European VET strategy.
Within this framework, the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) and the European Builders Confederation (EBC), coordinators of the Pact for Skills in Construction, presented the Pact to participants as one of Europe’s flagship initiatives for workforce development in the construction sector. A key focus of the discussions was the role of the Pact for Skills in mobilising stakeholders across Europe to invest in vocational education and workforce development. The Pact promotes stronger partnerships between industry, education providers, social partners and public authorities, helping to anticipate future skills needs and accelerate the delivery of training opportunities across the construction ecosystem. Built on five key principles aimed at improving both the quality and the quantity of skills across the sector.
The presentation also showed how these commitments are translated into action. Through the Construction Blueprint 2 project and national and regional skills partnerships, the Pact’s objectives become real training opportunities on the ground, supporting workers and companies across the construction ecosystem.
The conference reinforced a clear message: the green and digital transition of the built environment will only be achieved if the sector has the skilled people to deliver it. By bringing stakeholders together, the conference contributed to a shared European vision for skils development and stronger cooperation across the construction value chain.
