Apprenticeships for the Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal: Highlights from the 2025 EAfA High-Level Event

Key stakeholders, policymakers, social partners, education providers, companies, and apprentices gathered to explore how apprenticeships can drive Europe’s clean transition and develop a skilled, resilient workforce for the future.

A new era for skills and apprenticeships in Europe

Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, opened the event by underscoring the crucial role of apprenticeships and vocational education and training (VET) in advancing the European Commission’s flagship initiatives – the Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal. She also highlighted the role that EAfA and its members will play in reaching the ambitious key targets of the Union of Skills, including:

• Increasing women and girls' participation in STEM apprenticeships from 16% to 25% by 2030;
• Providing 50,000 apprenticeship opportunities in STEM-related fields for girls and women through EAfA members in support of the Girls Go STEM initiative;
• Attracting one million girls and women to STEM education.

In this light, Executive Vice-President Mînzatu called for a renewed push from EAfA stakeholders to scale up efforts, strengthen quality apprenticeships, and help the Alliance reach – and exceed – its ambitious target of at least 700 pledges by 2030.

At the event, the Executive Vice-President announced the introduction of a new pilot with a VET strand in the European Commission’s Bluebook traineeship programme from 2026, offering up to 100 placements for VET graduates. This action further underlines the Commission’s commitment to VET and apprenticeships, contributing to improving their image as a first choice for all.

The Vice-President formally welcomed 17 new EAfA members during a signing ceremony, representing part of the 85 organisations that have joined the Alliance since 2024. These additions contribute to a vibrant community now spanning 43 countries, bolstered by recent national commitments from Ukraine and Kosovo. As highlighted by Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) Director for Skills Manuela Geleng, EAfA’s growing network has so far reached more than 500 members and delivered over 3 million apprenticeships. 

The full list of new members and pledge renewals is available on the event's website.

Day 1: Shaping green and digital futures – apprenticeships at the heart of the clean transition

The first day focused on the transformative potential of apprenticeships in achieving the EU’s net-zero goal. It emphasised how apprenticeships can effectively support young people entering the labour market, as well as assist adults upskilling or reskilling for the green economy, equipping learners with clean tech and digital skills.

The EU social partners – the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), BusinessEurope, SMEunited, and SGI Europe – underlined several key points on the role of apprenticeships for supporting the clean transition. They highlighted the need for apprenticeships to be fair, inclusive, and democratic, emphasising strong social dialogue to protect apprentices’ rights. The key role of employers in developing skills for the clean transition was discussed, as was the importance of improving access to funding and providing support for trainers and SMEs in co-designing apprenticeship programmes that equip learners with STEM, digital, and basic skills. Close collaboration between VET providers, employers, and social partners was underlined as essential for developing curricula that equip learners with the green and digital skills needed for the clean transition and reflect the rapidly evolving demands of a climate-neutral economy.

The importance of flexible pathways and the recognition of prior learning was emphasised for supporting lifelong learning and inclusive access to apprenticeships. This is particularly pertinent for adult learners seeking to upskill or reskill for the clean transition, as well as for individuals who are currently outside the labour market or economically inactive. Examples of innovative projects blending formal education with real-world challenges showcased how hands-on experience can deepen learners’ understanding of sustainability and foster green innovation.

The day concluded by presenting the 2025 EAfA Champions, dynamic members who have committed to actively promote EAfA through their networks and work. The Champions’ panel was followed by the Apprenticeship Café, where EAfA members and the European Apprentices Network (EAN) showcased their work.

Day 2: Empowering apprentices through skills, representation, and STEM innovation

EAN opened the second day of the event. As the clean transition reshapes skills needs and labour markets, EAN underlined that apprentice representation is essential for shaping inclusive, future-proof apprenticeship programmes that reflect real learner experiences. However, EAN highlighted the uneven apprentice representation across Europe, which risks hindering its mission of amplifying apprentices’ voices, advocating for quality education, fair working conditions, and active representation. EAN reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with policymakers within the Union of Skills and Clean Industrial Deal frameworks, identifying these as key opportunities for stronger legislation to ensure written contracts, fair compensation, and meaningful involvement of apprentices in curriculum and policy development.

Diverse initiatives supporting green skills development across EU, national, and local levels were showcased, exemplifying the value of bottom-up approaches to greening apprenticeship schemes where employers in sectors critical to the clean transition help shape curricula that reflect real industry needs. Examples included Serbia’s UMKA factory, which integrates apprenticeships with recycling innovation; Poland’s structured cooperation between employers and education authorities to embed green skills into VET through sectoral agreements; and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Skills Partnership, which is developing training pathways for offshore renewable energy, with a strong focus on lifelong learning and occupational profiling.

The event addressed some of the challenges and opportunities in enhancing STEM education within apprenticeships, with the aim of tackling skills shortages and boosting women and girls’ participation. STEM skills are essential to the clean transition, yet current gaps in the workforce are slowing progress and undermining Europe’s competitiveness. Apprenticeships offer an effective entry route to green jobs, equipping learners with the technical expertise needed for emerging green industries. Spain’s Fundación Biodiversidad shared insights from its Empleaverde+ programme, highlighting ongoing challenges in mainstreaming sustainability and STEM education in formal systems. One example was the H2VerdeHuelva project, which provides targeted training for jobseekers and workers in the green hydrogen sector, demonstrating how tailored initiatives can align environmental priorities with evolving labour market needs.

The discussion highlighted how low female participation in male-dominated STEM fields continues to hold Europe back. To change this, speakers called for promoting female role models, breaking gender stereotypes, and fostering inclusive, gender-sensitive learning environments. Given that sustainability is a key priority for young people, linking STEM with green skills could be a powerful way to engage more girls and young women, ensuring they are part of the future workforce driving Europe’s green and digital transitions.

Towards an inclusive and innovative apprenticeship future: reflections and calls to action

Closing the event, Anna Banczyk, Head of Unit for Vocational Education and Training, Skills Portability and Cedefop at DG EMPL, reflected on its core message: VET and apprenticeships must be positioned as attractive and innovative green pathways to quality employment that support the clean industrial transition. She called for coordinated efforts to engage learners early, adapt curricula swiftly, and ensure inclusivity, particularly by encouraging more women and underrepresented groups into STEM fields. Beyond technical skills, transversal competences are vital to help learners navigate evolving labour markets. EAfA’s collaborative approach is crucial for breaking silos, fostering mutual learning, and putting apprentices’ voices centre-stage in policymaking to effectively respond to complex labour market needs.

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All event materials are available on the event website.