GROHE at EuroSkills 2023

• EuroSkills Gdańsk 2023 welcomed 600 skilled young professionals from 32 countries to participate in competitions and demonstrations in 43 different skills and trades

• GROHE supported the Plumbing and Heating competition, which featured 15 contestants from across Europe

• The partnership with WorldSkills Europe is the perfect complement to the brand’s GIVE Program (GROHE Installer Vocational Training and Education), which helps to counteract the shortage of skilled labor in the sanitary industry

Düsseldorf, September 11, 2023 – AmberExpo and Polsat Plus Arena in Gdańsk, Poland, have been filled with incredible talent, cheering crowds and excitement from September 5 to 9. During this period, the biennial EuroSkills Competition took place – the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe. As a premium sponsor of WorldSkills Europe, GROHE supported the organization of the competition for Plumbing and Heating and provided products for installation. After three intense days, Marton Offner from Hungary prevailed over 15 peers from across Europe to become the current European Champion in Plumbing and Heating.

“For us as one of the industry leaders, it is a matter of course to encourage young plumbing professionals. We need to equip trainees with the right skills and at the same time get more people excited about this profession. That’s why our partnership with WorldSkills Europe is so valuable. We share the same goal: to raise the profile and recognition of skilled people,” said Timo Kurz, Leader GIVE Program and WorldSkills, LIXIL EMENA.

Empowering the next generation of plumbers

Putting the installer profession in the spotlight is an important task, as the sanitary industry is facing challenges in attracting young talent to open positions worldwide. While there is an increasing demand for installers, the number of people pursuing this career path keeps declining. However, the partnership with WorldSkills Europe and WorldSkills International is just one building block in GROHE’s strategy to address this shortage: the brand’s own GIVE Program supports plumbing schools in creating a uniformed approach, with modern equipment, training materials, and written and practical examinations that set new industry standards. GROHE is already cooperating with more than 65 schools in the EMENA region, while aiming to reach up to 5,000 students per year.

GROHE award ceremony celebrating all participants

Part of recognizing the talents and an additional highlight to the general event was the GROHE awards ceremony. The brand gathered all contestants in the Plumbing and Heating competition to celebrate their accomplishments and awarded them with a unique hand shower fashioned in gold. A fitting end to the exciting days in Poland, and a taste of what is to come at WorldSkills 2024 in Lyon, where GROHE will also be present as a global industry partner to WorldSkills International.

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