After more than three years of preparations, the Skills Year 2020 has finally arrived. That means that the European Skills Championships are just around the corner too. Staging this event would not be possible without the support of many sponsors – so EuroSkills 2020 GmbH is delighted to welcome eleven new companies to the line-up of EuroSkills 2020 sponsors at the kick-off of this hallmark year.

The dawning of the new year officially sounded the bell for the final sprint towards EuroSkills 2020 in September. A first highlight of the Skills Year 2020 is the symbolic signing of as many as eleven new sponsors. They put pen to paper on a symbolic sponsoring certificate at a small get-together with refreshments hosted in the business lounge at the Styrian Economic Chamber on 15 January.

Mastering challenges with the help of sponsors

“An event like EuroSkills 2020 is an event of breathtaking scale in practically all respects, from the materials for competitors to on-site logistics,” says Josef Herk, Supervisory Board Chairman of EuroSkills 2020 GmbH. “That makes the support of our sponsors all the more important.”  Shortly before the European vocational championships, a staggering number of 380 fully loaded trucks will deliver all required material to the right place at the right time. Their incredible load will include 13 fully equipped kitchens for competitors in the Cooking skill category, 17,000 tiles in seven different colours for the tilers, and 550 potted plants plus 10,500 cut flowers for the floristry contest. Providing accommodation for the teams and coaches from 30 countries in September 2020, right in the middle of the peak tourist season, will certainly pose a huge challenge for the hospitality team and the Styrian tourism industry: 2,600 beds in 27 hotels were reserved one year before the event. “Our sponsors’ valuable support is the key that allows us to stage an unforgettable event of the highest standard that serves to convey an even more important message: that anyone who pursues their career with passion and commitment can become a true hero,” says Herk.

Leading the way is a new main sponsor: Festo, a true global player in digital transformation, has recently joined the ranks of the EuroSkills 2020 sponsors. As a family business founded in 1925 and driving force in the automation industry, Festo allows the mechatronics competitions to be held by providing the modular production system (MPS) stations.

On 15 January, EuroSkills 2020 GmbH was delighted to welcome not one, but three new diamond sponsors at the signing ceremony at the Styrian Economic Chamber: Würth, EMCO and Fanuc Austria. Würth is one of the leading specialist traders of assembly and mounting material and is mainly supporting EuroSkills 2020 by providing tools and workbenches for skills and trades in the Transportation and Logistics sector as well as in the Construction and Building Technology sector.

EMCO is a renowned provider of machinery for CNC turning and CNC milling and helps to ensure that EuroSkills 2020 can stage the CNC turning competitions. Fanuc is a well-known leading manufacturer of industrial robots. At EuroSkills 2020, the company will be exclusively responsible for setting up the Robot System Integrations skill.

Know-how from all industries for EuroSkills 2020

Logistics is one of the biggest challenges for EuroSkills 2020 GmbH: A massive amount of working material will have to be ready at the Messe Congress Graz exhibition centre on the big day. A reliable and skilled logistics partner is all the more important for this reason. This role is played by DHL Trade Fairs & Events GmbH which is now EuroSkills’ official logistics partner.

We also welcomed five new bronze sponsors at the start of the new year: PANDHY´S™, Volvo, Canon, Frutura and Felder. The Hungarian beauty company PANDHY´S™ is well established in the cosmetics segment and supporting the Beauty Therapist skill with its products. Europe’s leading manufacturer of heavy trucks, the Swedish firm Volvo will supply trucks for the Heavy Vehicle Technology skill. Canon founded in Japan is also demonstrating its commitment to the European vocational championships and providing the printers and plotters needed for the workshops and offices. The Austrian company Frutura will ensure that competitors will not go hungry – and will spoil them with mouth-watering fruit from the Styrian region.

As one of Austria’s leading woodworking companies, Felder is providing its machinery in support of the joinery and carpentry skills.

Last, but not least, EuroSkills 2020 will enjoy sponsorship from a true local hero from now on: Magna is providing financial support, making a key contribution towards making Austrian’s first EuroSkills competitions a real success.