The Bologna masterclass “Building the future: attracting and retaining young talent in Europe’s Construction sector”, organised by SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria within the CoVE BuildSkills Academy in collaboration with Formedil Italia, has come to a close.
On 8–9 October 2026, at the heart of the SAIE construction fair (Wagner Room, Piazza della Costituzione), the BuildSkills Academy (BSA) CoVE, a Centre of Vocational Excellence co-funded by Erasmus+ with 17 partners from 10 countries, hosted in Bologna the third and final masterclass of its European series, after Brussels and Berlin. The central question was a concrete one: how can we stimulate young people’s interest in a career in construction?
Opening the proceedings
Participants were welcomed by Paola Previdi, CEO of SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, who opened the masterclass together with Maria Nakova, COVE BSA Coordinator (Cleantech Bulgaria). She was followed by Stefano Macale, General Director of Formedil Italia, the national joint body for training, safety and employment services in the construction sector, founded in 1980 and operating through a network of 116 local bodies. Formedil collaborated in organising the event and kicked off the discussion on youth employment in European construction, with a particular focus on connecting schools, companies and young people.
Formedil at SAIE: showing the skills of an increasingly digital, green and inclusive sector
Formedil’s presence at SAIE had a clear purpose: to show the real skills landscape of a sector in transformation, increasingly digital, sustainable and inclusive. The first-day programme included a guided tour of the fair, led by a Formedil representative and supported by University of Ferrara researchers, to see cutting-edge technologies in action (robotics, 3D printing, sustainable materials, VR/AR for work and for training) and to engage in Q&A with site managers and participants. A concrete showcase to help young people, and those who guide their choices, see how construction careers have changed.
Two days, four focus areas
The programme was structured around four themes:
- Diversity and inclusion: breaking down youth and gender stereotypes, with case studies on how regions are rebranding the sector and a panel on the female talent pool featuring Léna Guyon (FIEC) and the Beeyonders project.
- Technology as an enabler, moderated by Emanuele Piaia (University of Ferrara), with Massimiliano Mazzanti (SEEDS), Martina Massari (University of Bologna) and a panel of young professionals on the green and digital transition.
- Sustainability as purpose, with international perspectives from UNESCO-UNEVOC, CIOB, EAfA and the universities of Siegen, Athens and Cyprus.
- Quality training pathways: skills certification, innovation, and testimonies from ITS Bologna students and BSA partners.
Speakers also included representatives of several local Formedil bodies (Bari, Cuneo, Abruzzo), CNOS-FAP, Centoform, ITS TECH, EVBB, IVEPE-SEV and WAM. On day two, a Table Talk session involved participants in jointly building initiatives to attract young talent.
What young people say
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) presented data from its 2026 survey “Changing Perceptions of Construction: Attracting the Next Generation and Closing the Gender Gap”:
- Who influences choices. Family remains first (46%, down from 50% in 2025), but social media is growing (32%, up from 26%).
- Why parents hesitate. Physical effort, outdoor work, safety, and a sector perceived as male-dominated and unwelcoming to women: the same concerns young people voice.
- What attracts. Digital and technology (27%) and design (27%).
The message is clear: young people are not only asking “what kind of job is it?”, but what they will learn, where a career could take them, and whether they will feel part of the team.
The role of schools and training providers
To bring young people closer to construction, schools and VET providers can act as a bridge with companies:
- show the real job, through site and company visits, testimonies from young workers and women in the sector, and meetings open to parents;
- build pathways with companies, translating the skills they need into clear courses with recognisable career outcomes;
- make skills readable, with certifications recognised abroad;
- speak young people’s language, using social channels to portray the sector accurately.
BSA’s free tools
As an EU co-funded project, the COVE BSA makes its products available free of charge:
- 12 training courses for young people, workers and entrepreneurs on BIM and digitalisation, energy efficiency, occupational safety, circular economy and waste management, smart and resilient cities, bio-inspired innovation and more. In Italy they are delivered by SFC in collaboration with the University of Ferrara and ITS TECH.
- The BESM methodology (Build Enriched Skills Methodology), with a free digital platform for course self-assessment, skills-gap analysis and a Skills Explorer with nearly 300 skills for green and digital construction.
- A skills certification system, with schemes for persons aligned with ISO/IEC 17024, making skills visible beyond national borders.
How to get involved
Are you a coordinator or teacher who wants to bring BSA courses to your school or organisation? Would you like to start a collaboration with companies in the sector? Do you work in an association or NGO with young people and families? Contact us:
🔗 The Bologna masterclass presentations are available here
🔗 More information: buildskillsacademy.com
The Bologna masterclass “Building the future: attracting and retaining young talent in Europe’s Construction sector”, organised by SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria within the CoVE BuildSkills Academy in collaboration with Formedil Italia, has come to a close.
On 8–9 October 2026, at the heart of the SAIE construction fair (Wagner Room, Piazza della Costituzione), the BuildSkills Academy (BSA) CoVE, a Centre of Vocational Excellence co-funded by Erasmus+ with 17 partners from 10 countries, hosted in Bologna the third and final masterclass of its European series, after Brussels and Berlin. The central question was a concrete one: how can we stimulate young people’s interest in a career in construction?
Opening the proceedings
Participants were welcomed by Paola Previdi, CEO of SFC Sistemi Formativi Confindustria, who opened the masterclass together with Maria Nakova, COVE BSA Coordinator (Cleantech Bulgaria). She was followed by Stefano Macale, General Director of Formedil Italia, the national joint body for training, safety and employment services in the construction sector, founded in 1980 and operating through a network of 116 local bodies. Formedil collaborated in organising the event and kicked off the discussion on youth employment in European construction, with a particular focus on connecting schools, companies and young people.
Formedil at SAIE: showing the skills of an increasingly digital, green and inclusive sector
Formedil’s presence at SAIE had a clear purpose: to show the real skills landscape of a sector in transformation, increasingly digital, sustainable and inclusive. The first-day programme included a guided tour of the fair, led by a Formedil representative and supported by University of Ferrara researchers, to see cutting-edge technologies in action (robotics, 3D printing, sustainable materials, VR/AR for work and for training) and to engage in Q&A with site managers and participants. A concrete showcase to help young people, and those who guide their choices, see how construction careers have changed.
Two days, four focus areas
The programme was structured around four themes:
- Diversity and inclusion: breaking down youth and gender stereotypes, with case studies on how regions are rebranding the sector and a panel on the female talent pool featuring Léna Guyon (FIEC) and the Beeyonders project.
- Technology as an enabler, moderated by Emanuele Piaia (University of Ferrara), with Massimiliano Mazzanti (SEEDS), Martina Massari (University of Bologna) and a panel of young professionals on the green and digital transition.
- Sustainability as purpose, with international perspectives from UNESCO-UNEVOC, CIOB, EAfA and the universities of Siegen, Athens and Cyprus.
- Quality training pathways: skills certification, innovation, and testimonies from ITS Bologna students and BSA partners.
Speakers also included representatives of several local Formedil bodies (Bari, Cuneo, Abruzzo), CNOS-FAP, Centoform, ITS TECH, EVBB, IVEPE-SEV and WAM. On day two, a Table Talk session involved participants in jointly building initiatives to attract young talent.
What young people say
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) presented data from its 2026 survey “Changing Perceptions of Construction: Attracting the Next Generation and Closing the Gender Gap”:
- Who influences choices. Family remains first (46%, down from 50% in 2025), but social media is growing (32%, up from 26%).
- Why parents hesitate. Physical effort, outdoor work, safety, and a sector perceived as male-dominated and unwelcoming to women: the same concerns young people voice.
- What attracts. Digital and technology (27%) and design (27%).
The message is clear: young people are not only asking “what kind of job is it?”, but what they will learn, where a career could take them, and whether they will feel part of the team.
The role of schools and training providers
To bring young people closer to construction, schools and VET providers can act as a bridge with companies:
- show the real job, through site and company visits, testimonies from young workers and women in the sector, and meetings open to parents;
- build pathways with companies, translating the skills they need into clear courses with recognisable career outcomes;
- make skills readable, with certifications recognised abroad;
- speak young people’s language, using social channels to portray the sector accurately.
BSA’s free tools
As an EU co-funded project, the COVE BSA makes its products available free of charge:
- 12 training courses for young people, workers and entrepreneurs on BIM and digitalisation, energy efficiency, occupational safety, circular economy and waste management, smart and resilient cities, bio-inspired innovation and more. In Italy they are delivered by SFC in collaboration with the University of Ferrara and ITS TECH.
- The BESM methodology (Build Enriched Skills Methodology), with a free digital platform for course self-assessment, skills-gap analysis and a Skills Explorer with nearly 300 skills for green and digital construction.
- A skills certification system, with schemes for persons aligned with ISO/IEC 17024, making skills visible beyond national borders.
How to get involved
Are you a coordinator or teacher who wants to bring BSA courses to your school or organisation? Would you like to start a collaboration with companies in the sector? Do you work in an association or NGO with young people and families? Contact us:
🔗 The Bologna masterclass presentations are available here
🔗 More information: buildskillsacademy.com