The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Building Future-Ready Vocational Education and Training Systems succinctly explains one of the many benefits of strong vocational education systems: ‘Across OECD countries, individuals aged 25 to 34 who have an upper-secondary vocational qualification as their highest qualification have employment rates that are substantially higher than those with a general qualification at the same level and those without an upper-secondary qualification.’

This view is reflected in the words of Michael Stroik, Vice President, Community Relations, 3M:

‘At 3M, we believe that education is the cornerstone of innovation, and we are honoured to play a role in shaping a brighter future for all.’

This year, 3M played that role by serving as the Main Skills Sponsor of the ninth EuroSkills Competition, held from 9 to 13 September 2025 in Herning, Denmark. Around 600 vocational apprentices and students under the age of 25 came together at the largest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe to represent 33 countries and compete for European Championship medals.

These talented young ‘skill athletes’ competed, both individually and on teams, in front of tens of thousands of spectators, including leading companies and prestigious education and training institutions from across Europe. The competition featured 38 different skills across six sectors: construction and building technology; creative arts and fashion; information and communication technology; manufacturing and engineering technology; service industry; and transportation and logistics.

To win medals within these categories, skill athletes were asked to do everything from cabinetmaking and creating refrigeration installations to hairdressing and working with bus and truck technology. The dozens of competitions included:

• The Landscape Gardening Competition, in which two-person teams built small gardens with pavement, plants, wooden terraces and water features.

• The Mechatronics Competition, in which young people designed, built, commissioned, maintained, repaired and adjusted automated industrial equipment, as well as programmed equipment, control systems and human machine interfaces. 

• The Bakery Competition, in which contestants demonstrated decorative work, baked bread with sweet dough and baked savoury bread, among other key skills.

• The Health and Social Care Competition, in which young people were assessed on their ability to provide proper care with empathy and strong communication skills to clients in home, community and hospital settings.

• The Automobile Technology Competition, in which competitors demonstrated skills in general work health, safety, sustainable practices, testing and diagnosis, repairs and measurements, working with diagnostics and understanding electrical diagrams.

During the EuroSkills Competition, 3M provided innovative products, solutions and insights into product applications to help young people address both competition challenges and everyday work tasks. This support was critical as participants completed test projects within strict time limits that required complex technical knowledge and capabilities learned through their studies and workplace training.

Of the competition, Chris Goralski, Group President, Safety & Industrial, 3M, reflected:

‘Our collaboration with EuroSkills 2025 aligns with 3M’s efforts to help advance the workforce of the future. By working together, we can provide even greater opportunities for students to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers and contribute positively to their communities. At 3M, we are excited to be supporting the next generation of leaders through this invaluable partnership.’

In part thanks to 3M’s contributions, this year’s EuroSkills Competition gave young people access to the latest equipment, tools and technology, as well as the opportunity to meet potential future colleagues and employers from across Europe. With these advantages, participants can use their competition experience as a springboard to even greater professional success in the future.