BuildSkills Academy Masterclass Brought Together European Stakeholders to Shape the Future Skills Agenda for Construction
The first BuildSkills Academy Masterclass “The Pact for Skills and What New Skills Will Drive the Twin Transition?” brought together more than 100 participants onsite and online from across Europe to discuss how the construction sector can address emerging skills needs and prepare its workforce for the green and digital transitions.
Organised by the BuildSkills Academy, coordinated by Cleantech Bulgaria, together with the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC), the event was hosted in Brussels on 18 and 19 June 2026. It gathered representatives from European institutions, industry organisations, vocational education and training (VET) providers, higher education institutions, research organisations, certification bodies, social partners, and Centres of Vocational Excellence.
Across seven thematic panels, 24 speakers representing leading European organisations shared insights, good practices, and practical solutions for developing a future-ready construction workforce.
Addressing the Skills Challenge of the Twin Transition
The discussions highlighted the key challenges facing the sector:
- growing labour and skills shortages across Europe;
- the urgent need for upskilling and reskilling of the existing workforce;
- increasing demand for green, digital, and circular economy competences;
- the importance of attracting new talent to construction careers;
- stronger cooperation between industry, education providers, policymakers, and social partners.
A common message emerged throughout the Masterclass: skills development is not only an education challenge – it is a strategic priority for Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience.
Exploring the Future Construction Skills
The Masterclass followed a comprehensive approach, moving from European policy priorities to practical solutions and collaborative action.
Starting from the European Skills Policy and Strategic Vision for the Construction Sector, participants examined the Future Skills Needs for the Built Environment and the Innovative Training Solutions and Skills Development Pathways showcasing the BuildSkills Academy CoVE solutions and those of the Construction Blueprint. The discussion moved From Strategy to Implementation focusing on Scaling Skills Development Across Europe. Best Practices in Green and Digital Skills Development have been also shared.
The second day focused on Recognising, Validating and Certifying Skills for the Twin Transition, exploring how micro-credentials, apprenticeships, and transitional skills certification, can make skills more visible, trusted, and portable.
The Masterclass concluded with the Collaborative Action Lab aiming at Designing the Future of Skills Development, where participants worked together to identify challenges, opportunities, and priorities related to skills recognition, training innovation, and future cooperation.
All presentations delivered during the Masterclass are available here.
The BuildSkills Academy team thanks FIEC, all speakers, moderators, and participants for their valuable contributions and commitment to advancing skills development for a more sustainable, digital, and resilient construction sector.
Exploring BuildSkills Academy Solutions
The Masterclass demonstrated the importance of collaboration and shared action in building a skilled and resilient construction workforce.
Stakeholders are invited to visit and explore BuildSkills Academy resources, tools, and methodologies developed to support skills intelligence, training innovation, and lifelong learning in construction. These include the BuildEnrichedSkills Methodology (BESM) and the tailor-made Digital platform, enriched VET courses, and certification approaches designed for training providers, companies, and other actors across the construction ecosystem.
Participants and interested organisations are also encouraged to join the BuildSkills Community and contribute to a growing European network supporting vocational excellence, innovation, and skills development for the twin transition.
What’s Next?
The Brussels Masterclass is the first in a series of BuildSkills Academy Masterclasses aimed at fostering dialogue, sharing good practices, and supporting the implementation of skills solutions for the construction sector.
Two additional Masterclasses will take place later this year, providing further opportunities for stakeholders across Europe to exchange experiences and contribute to shaping the future of construction skills.
The first one will focus on “How sustainable construction will impact the construction sector in the future?” and will be conducted in hybrid format in Berlin, Germany as well as online on 17 – 18 September 2026. The event will be co-organized by the German Energy Agency (dena). Тhis masterclass will explore how sustainable construction is changing the way buildings are designed, built, used and reused across Europe. Participants will discover how green and digital transition is reshaping the sector and creating new demands for skills, training and collaboration.
Registration for online participation is already open: REGISTER HERE.
On 8 and 9 October 2026 we’ll have the masterclass on “How to stimulate the interest of young people for taking career in construction?”co-organized by Formedil. The event will be conducted also in hybrid format – in Bologna, Italy during the SAIE Bologna 2026, as well as online. It will explore how innovation, sustainability and inclusive workplaces can make construction careers more attractive to young people. Inspired by entrepreneurial examples from ANCE Giovani, the event will focus on youth engagement and future careers in construction.
Registration for online participation is already open: REGISTER HERE.
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