The first European Commission’s Helpdesk service on GPP webinar of 2023 will address the public procurement of green skills.

Achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal will not happen unless the workforce acquires the relevant skills and competences. Yet, Europe is currently facing a skills gap. Estimates show that more than three-quarters of companies across the EU report having difficulties finding workers with the necessary skills. For this reason, European Commission President von der Leyen proposed in her 2022 State of the Union address to make 2023 the European Year of Skills to strengthen competitiveness, better target investments, and cooperate with companies. A skilled workforce has the potential to contribute to sustainable growth, more innovation and improve companies’ competitiveness. Public procurement is a powerful tool that public authorities can use to stimulate demand for skills. By embedding criteria in tenders for certain certifications, services, or qualifications, public buyers can send a signal to the market and encourage the development and learning of skills that support the transition to a greener economy. Procurers across Europe have started to embed skills requirements in tenders across a variety of product categories.

This webinar will analyse how public procurement can be used as a strategic tool that can support the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and help to futureproof the European Economy.