BUILDS
Bottom-Up Initiative for Learning and Development of Skills in Construction
The BUILDS (Bottom-Up Initiative for Learning and Development of Skills in Construction) project aims to transform the way skills are developed and governed in the European construction sector by addressing the widening gap between labour market demands and the capacity of current training ecosystems. In a sector facing acute shortages of green and digital skills, low youth interest, and uneven regional governance, BUILDS offers a bottom-up, inclusive model to accelerate the twin transitions while ensuring no one is left behind. Through the establishment of Regional Pact for Skills Hubs across five European territories, the project empowers local stakeholders—SMEs, VET providers, regional authorities, and social partners—to jointly coordinate reskilling and upskilling strategies tailored to their specific challenges and priorities. These hubs serve as engines for regional cooperation and innovation, connecting central EU initiatives like the Pact for Skills with real-world implementation on the ground.
BUILDS develops and deploys a data-driven Skills Intelligence Toolkit to forecast emerging skill needs and inform strategic workforce planning. It plots modular, microcredential-based learning paths for three core target groups; low-skilled workers, employees needing to take on new tasks, and individuals transitioning from other sectors. These training portfolios are embedded in smart, interoperable credentialing systems that facilitate validation, recognition, and mobility across regions and industries. Through strategic policy engagement, digital dissemination, and a comprehensive transferability package, BUILDS ensures sustainable, system-level impact beyond the project lifecycle-bridging the skills gap in construction through inclusive, regional innovation and empowering Europe’s green and digital future.
Objectives
Results
Activities
Objectives
Objectives of the Project
The general objective of BUILDS is to accelerate upskilling and reskilling for the construction sector’s workforce, targeting low-skilled workers, current employees requiring new competences, and workers transitioning from other sectors, by deploying an integrated strategy that combines strengthened regional skills governance (WP2), enhanced skills intelligence and forecasting (WP3), and innovative training offers (WP4), while promoting inclusion, regional cohesion, and leveraging EU tools such as ESCO, DigiComp, GreenComp,
and European Digital Credentials for Learning – EDC.
- Specific Objective 1 (SO1): Development of regional governance structures (Regional Pact for Skills – RPS Hubs) that bring together all relevant stakeholders and support ongoing coordination and cooperation.
- Specific Objective 2 (SO2): Developing and piloting a practical Toolkit for identifying emerging green and digital skills needs in local and regional level for construction, combining labour market data with stakeholder insights and aligned with EU frameworks (ESCO, DigComp, GreenComp).
- Specific Objective 3 (SO3): Provide SME support for reskilling and upskilling through piloting of modular, microcredentials-certified training portfolios targeting the full range of adult learners: low- skilled workers, in-transition construction employees, and career changers.
Results
Expected Main Results
- Comparative report on existing Governance structures and recommendations for the establishment of Regional Pact for Skills Hubs
- RSP Hubs Action Plans
- Transferability and Upscaling Package
- Regional Pact for Skills Intelligence Toolkit Methodology
- Portfolio of Financial Models and Value Propositions for Sustainable RPS Hubs
- Matchmaking Mechanism & Pilot Report
- Recommendations for Curriculum Adaptation in the Construction Sector
- Microcredential Framework and Certification Workflow
- Pilot Evaluation and Fine-Tuning Report
- Dissemination and exploitation Plan.
- Lessons Learned and Action based Policy Recommendation Report
- Final Dissemination Report with outreach and impact Evidence
Activities
Project Activities
- Develop and support bottom-up governance, connecting members of the Pact for Skills in constructions (WP2).
- Support the definition, implementation and monitoring of skill intelligence platform (WP3)
- Develop and support cooperation among SMEs, in the field of training; support the definition, implementation, and monitoring of upskilling of low-skilled people, reskilling people for new tasks in their jobs, reskilling of people from other sectors with skills transferable into the own sector. (WP4 Smart Training Pillars: Piloting Microcredential Paths for Construction Workers)
- Replication of project results in new ecosystems and alignment on high EU-policy level (WP5).
Funding Programme
ERASMUS + FORWARD LOOKING PROJECTS
Project Number
ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PI-FORWARD 101260065
Budget
999.627,38 €
Duration
01/2026 – 01/2029 (36 months)
Countries
Germany, Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria, Spain, Belgium, Italy & Sweden
Project Partners
- AKMI ANONIMI EKPAIDEFTIKI ETAIRIA (Greece)
- CleanTech Bulgaria (Bulgaria)
- AEICE – Cluster de Hábitat Eficiente (Spain)
- EBC – European Builders Confederation (Belgium)
- EVBB – Europäischer Verband Beruflicher Bildungsträger (Germany)
- BFW – Berufsförderungswerk der Bauindustrie NRW (Germany)
- LearningDigital SRL (Italy)
- Stiftelsen Kursverksamheten vid Uppsala Universitet (Sweden)
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BK-con entails broad experience in EU funded projects, at a development and implementation level. Being founded in 1994, we have over 30 years of expertise in transnational projects having participated in the design and implementation of a total Project value that exceeds the budget of 4 billion Euros.
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