After intensive effort and huge commitment from everyone, we’re delighted to announce that the European vocational championships EuroSkills 2020 will finally be staged this coming September as EuroSkills 2021. This means that the European championships for young, skilled workers will be one of the first rays of hope for the events industry in a long time.

Graz, 3 February 2021.We’ve made it. After several months of intense negotiations and in close cooperation with the European partners, a new date has now been set for Austria’s debut as the host of EuroSkills, announces EuroSkills 2021 initiator and president of the Styrian Economic Chamber, Josef Herk: ““We didn’t give up, and we’ve worked hard for this day to come. Which makes me all the more delighted to announce that our vocational championships event ‘EuroSkills’ can now take place from 22nd to 26th September 2021.”All competitions have been relocated to the Schwarzl See, a lakeside area near Graz. Easily accessible by car and public transport, the leisure park and event arena offers ideal conditions as a venue for staging the competitions, which will be held in large exhibition tents. What’s more, this location offers about 10,000 square metres more space than the previous one. “In keeping with our ‘can-do’ approach, this relocation gives us many new options,” says Josef Herk. “The large, open-air area will provide new opportunities to turn the event into a big celebration, and maybe even create a real festival atmosphere for the young, skilled workers from all over Europe. I would like to extend my thanks to all our supporters, funding bodies and sponsors, who have remained loyal to us over the past few months. We are also especially grateful for the firm backing from Austrian businesses, as it is only with their clear commitment to the cause that we are able to organise an event like EuroSkills successfully. This is not something to be taken for granted in the present, challenging times, and is therefore all the more valuable. Thank you so much!“

Flagship event for a highly trained, skilled workforce

“The European championships event ‘EuroSkills’ showcases the up-and-coming elite of the skilled workforce from all over Europe, and is an important flagship event for raising the profile of vocational education and emphasising the importance of highly qualified, skilled workers,” says Economic Affairs Minister Margarete Schramböck.“The competition is getting tougher –not only in international contests, but also in everyday business life. That’s why we are called upon to promote the qualifications of our skilled workforce. Sadly, the Corona pandemic in 2020 made it necessary for usto postpone the championships in Graz. I am therefore all the more pleased that we can now announce a new date. It is a great honour for Austria to host this competition in Graz”, emphasises Ms Schramböck.

Collaboration and solidarity between the Province of Styria and the City of Graz

“The quality of Austria’s dual education system is known far beyond Austria’s borders –this is what our young, skilled workers have already demonstrated at numerous international vocational skills competitions in the past,” says the Governor of the Province of Styria, Hermann Schützenhöfer. “I am very proud that EuroSkills is going to take place in Styria this year. As a sign of the close collaboration and solidarity between the Province of Styria and the City of Graz, we succeeded in winning not only the Messe Congress Graz exhibition centre, but also the new location in Premstätten near Graz as venues for the European Skills Championships. Collaboration is key in times of Corona ‒ and especially afterwards. It is only by working together that we can succeed in getting our economy back on track. And that’s why we need our highly trained, skilled workers more than ever before”, says governour Hermann Schützenhöfer.

A highly motivated “national vocational skills team” have started preparations

Excitement is growing among the highly motivated members of “Team Austria” ahead of the vocational skills championships to be hosted by Austria, reports the president of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, Harald Mahrer: “There is already huge excitement and anticipation among Team Austria to see EuroSkills 2021 happen on their home ground in Graz! The 111 medals we won at the previous six European skills championships bear witness to Austria’s success to date. This year, too, our own Team Austria will do all they can to demonstrate strong performances at the highest level. Our “skillers” are ambassadors for professional passion, and they’ll be showing young people what great opportunities await highly trained skilled workers. They’llsend out their message to the world to express what Austria stands for: qualifications, quality and excellent training. That is the reason why we, as the Chamber of Commerce, care so much about this contest and are committed to giving it our full support!”

A boost for tourism thanks to EuroSkills in Graz

The Messe Congress Graz exhibition centre, right at the heart of the city of Graz, was considered the perfect venue for the event’s opening and closing ceremonies ‒ a real “ray of light” after the past months, which have been so badly affected by COVID-19. “EuroSkills as a mega-event is certainly of enormous economic importance, especially after such a difficult year –as it will give a boost for the tourism industry, with images from Graz being beamed all over the world”, says the Mayor of the City of Graz, Siegfried Nagl. “Equally important is the message to all young people in Graz and throughout Austria that enthusiasm for occupational skills and trades is well placed, because these skills are urgentlyneeded in our society”, emphasises the mayor of Graz.

WorldSkills movement remains strong

“As with all major international events, the pandemic has seriously impacted the planning and organisation of EuroSkills in Graz”, reports the President of WorldSkills Europe, Dita Traidas. “We are incredibly grateful to and proud of the EuroSkills Graz team for their tireless work in close collaboration with WorldSkills Europe, which will enable us to continue to drive the WorldSkills movement forward even in these complicated times. We are thankful for the strong commitment shown by all supporters of EuroSkills Graz and look forward with great hope to the staging of another great skills event in Europe in September this year, despite everything that we have gone through”, says Ms Traidas.

With this in mind, the EuroSkills 2021 team will continue to do their very best in the months ahead to make the event a unique experience for the entire “skills family” and to spread enthusiasm for the vocational skills championships. We are Skills!

Photos Gallery: Photo 1 and Photo 2 (Klaus Morgenstern); Photo 3 (EuroSkills2021).