Skills+ 3.0 in Action: TPM and national competitions
At CollectiveUP, we believe that skills development is not just about training, it’s about inclusion, empowerment, and creating opportunities where every individual can shine. That is the vision behind Skills+ 3.0, a project that brings together partners from across Europe to rethink vocational education and create fairer pathways into the labor market.
If you’re new to Skills+ 3.0 and want to learn more about how the project puts talent center stage in Europe’s inclusion revolution, we invite you to read our earlier blogpost here.
Palermo TPM: Building momentum
Earlier this month we gathered in Palermo for a Transnational Project Meeting hosted by our Italian partners CIRPE. It was an inspiring gathering where we aligned on the concrete steps for the upcoming national competitions in each country. Partners exchanged ideas, finalized formats, and tackled the practicalities of making each competition both meaningful and inclusive.
But Palermo was not only about work. As a team, we also had the chance to bond and experience the city’s vibrant culture. From exploring stunning streets and historic art to tasting local delicacies such as arancina, pane panelle, and cannolo, these shared moments strengthened our collaboration and reminded us that community is at the heart of Skills+ 3.0.
National competitions: A European celebration of skills
Every partner country will host its own competitions, adapted to local contexts but united by the same purpose: to highlight the strengths of learners, many of whom come from marginalized groups, and to show that talent exists everywhere when given the right opportunities.
In the Netherlands, ProWork will hold their competition on 12 November in Burgh-Haamstede, focusing on green jobs, cooking, and housekeeping with two teams per job. Creative solutions have already been put in place: artificial grass will be used to overcome seasonal challenges, walking areas will be prepared with eco-friendly wood chips, and a nearby hotel will help the contestants on what to expect by creating a room-cleaning protocol. Cooking teams are already practicing, perfecting their dishes for the big day.
In the Czech Republic, Euroface Consulting will host their competition on 5 November in partnership with the Secondary vocational school Gellnerka, a school for hearing-impaired students. ICT and green jobs are the focus, with two teams per job. Teachers are preparing participants with practice tests and will also serve as judges. The competition will be contestant-centered, complete with t-shirts, refreshments, medals, and meaningful prizes.
In Greece, ALLI is preparing a national competition in March 2026 together with the Margarita vocational training center for people with disabilities. Likely focusing on green jobs and cooking, they aim for three teams per job, with judges from ALLI’s extensive network.
In Spain, Siglo22 is splitting their national competition into several events. On 24 September in Madrid, a cooking contest will take place at Colegio FUHEM Hipatia with a professional chef as judge. On 29 September in Ibiza, another cooking competition will be held with Asperger Ibiza & Formentera. Across the two events, five teams will compete, and the overall winner will be decided afterwards. The ICT competition will follow on 1 October at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, with four teams competing under the guidance of a telecommunications engineer as judge. Contestants will receive aprons and bracelets to mark the occasion.
In Romania, Bucovina Institute will organize cooking and housekeeping competitions in November and December, collaborating with a shelter for young adults with disabilities. Four to five teams will participate, with one of the judges being an active community member with physical disabilities himself.
In Lithuania, Socialinių projektų institutas (SPI) will host two competitions with a district disability activity center in Jovana: cooking on 23 October with a professional chef as judge, and ICT on 25 October with an IT engineer. Both contests will feature two to three teams.
In Italy, CIRPE is preparing a cooking competition in October within their sheltered workshop, judged by a professional chef, with two teams competing. The green jobs competition will follow in September 2025, organized in collaboration with a Cooperativa Sociale, with CIRPE acting as judge and two to three teams expected.
🎥 Video from previous competitions that CIRPE organized in Italy.
In Belgium, we, CollectiveUP in close collaboration with LIGO will organize two competitions in November or December: cooking with Compaan, and housekeeping with the VDAB, each potentially involving two teams. WIth judges to be respective professionals from our extensive network.
The road to finals
All national winners will come together in the Netherlands in March 2026 for the international finals of Skills+ 3.0. While prizes will of course be awarded, the essence of these competitions goes far beyond trophies. What matters most is ensuring that every recognition makes sense for the participants, celebrates their unique abilities, and honors their achievements in a meaningful way.
Looking back at videos from past international competitions you can see the excitement, pride, and sense of belonging that these events create for young adults with disabilities. The Skills+ 3.0 journey is about more than skills training, it is about visibility, empowerment, and proving that inclusion works in practice.
Every national and international competition demonstrates that nobody should be excluded. Through creativity, strong partnerships, and inclusive approaches, we are building spaces where participants showcase their talents in cooking, housekeeping, ICT, and green jobs. These are not just competitions, they are reminders that each person deserves the opportunity to be valued for their contribution.
If you want to learn more, visit the Skills+ 3.0 project website where you will find updates, stories, and resources from across Europe.
👉 We are now looking for organizations working with people in vulnerable situations, especially in the fields of cooking and housekeeping, to join us in preparing and supporting teams for the national competitions.
Want to collaborate with us on this journey? Get in touch and join us in showing that there is space for all of us.
