16 September 2025
EuroSkills Herning 2025 celebrates Europe’s brightest talents
An inspiring week of competition involving almost 600 young, skilled professionals concluded in Denmark.
EuroSkills Herning 2025, the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe, came to a close on Saturday, 13 September, after a week of competition in Denmark.
Guided by the theme “Skilled for a Greener Future,” EuroSkills Herning 2025 highlighted not only outstanding skills and innovation but also the essential role of skills in building a sustainable Europe. Across 38 skills, Competitors showed how technical expertise and creativity can address the challenges of tomorrow while shaping greener, more resilient communities.
The official results were revealed during an exciting Closing Ceremony at the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning. Thousands of supporters joined delegations from all WorldSkills Europe Member countries, alongside hundreds of Experts and dignitaries, to celebrate the 585 Competitors from 32 European countries.
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Jos de Goey Best in Europe Award, which went to Loris Cubizolles of France, gold Medallist in CNC Milling. Established in memory of the founder and first President of WorldSkills Europe and Honorary President of WorldSkills, the accolade is presented to a Competitor or team with the highest overall achievement across all skill competitions, recognizing exceptional talent, dedication, and the spirit of the skills movement.
Addressing all Competitors with an impassioned message, Ben Blackledge, Chair of WorldSkills Europe, said, “You have shown the world what it means to be skilled for a greener future, proving that skills have the power to inspire, to innovate, and to make our societies stronger, fairer, and more sustainable. You are part of a new generation that will lead Europe through challenges like digitalization, artificial intelligence, and climate change – and your skills are the key to building that future.”
Competing in the skill of CNC Milling, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for Europe Aapo Paunonen talked about the joy of sharing the experience with other like-minded, passionate young people, Aapo said, “EuroSkills is not only about the competition, but about growth, resilience, and the friendships you build along the way.”
The EuroSkills Herning 2025 Closing Ceremony concluded with the passing of the WorldSkills Europe flag to the next EuroSkills host nations, Germany and Luxembourg, who will present EuroSkills Düsseldorf 2027.
An impactful event
EuroSkills Herning 2025 welcomed 102,934 visitors eager to witness Europe’s top young skilled professionals in action, as well as to take part in Try-a-Skill activities and exhibitions.
“Over the past three days, Messecenter Herning has been filled with an energy unlike any other. The sound of tools, the focus of concentration, the sweat, joy – and maybe a few tears,” said Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Chair of EuroSkills 2025. “We have had thousands of visitors from all over Europe – from the Centres of Vocational Excellence, ministers from the European Union, the Danish King to the hopeful schoolchildren seeing your excellence in action. Herning has been transformed into a workshop of Europe’s future.”
During the event, education ministers, and stakeholders from across Europe met in Herning to discuss the future of vocational education. At the end of the meeting, the Herning Declaration was signed, calling for strengthening cooperation across EU member states, attracting more young people to skills, and ensuring it meets the demands of the labour market.
The declaration underlines the crucial role of vocational education in Europe’s competitiveness and its importance in addressing the growing shortage of skills required to drive both the green and digital transitions.
Leyla Valiyeva, WorldSkills Champions Trust representative for MENA, said, “My biggest takeaway was expanding my global network. I met visitors who had come from all over the world and I got to connect and share my experience with some of the policymakers in Europe.”
Learn more about EuroSkills Herning 2025, and explore the Official Results.