Future of European Commerce Awards 2023 highlights focus on training

An independent jury made up of Dita Charanzová from the European Parliament, André Sobczak (EuroCities), Kristin Schreiber (DG GROW), Monique Goyens (the European consumer association (BEUC)), Ester Asin Martinez WWF, Christophe Leclercq (founder of EurActiv), and Juan Manuel Morales (EuroCommerce President), evaluated an impressive pool of 51 applications.  

Four organisations were nominated in the skills category for their initiatives promoting workforce development, a skilled and equitable workplace, entrepreneurship and their recognised efforts in upskilling, reskilling, diversity, and inclusion projects. The organisations nominated in the skills category were: 

• The Covirán Retail Business School was established with the goal of providing high-quality training to prepare students for swift entry into the labour market through a combination of face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses.  
• Leroy Merlin Italia’s FormidAbili works to increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in shops, conducted in collaboration with (R)GENERIAMO, focusing on diversity as a team asset. 
• Jerónimo Martins Group’s Incluir Programme promotes the employability of people who are disadvantaged when accessing the labour market due to disability and/or an impairment, exposure to social risk and migrants and refugees.  
• The Finnish Commerce Federation has developed a Digital Commerce study module in collaboration with five Finnish universities that aims to increase the number of new digital commerce experts in the sector and develop the skills of those already working in the sector.  

The Jerónimo Martins Group won the trophy in this category. The Portuguese Incluir programme, launched in 2015, promotes employment opportunities for individuals from vulnerable groups, including individuals with disabilities. It also supports migrants and refugees who may encounter difficulties such as limited access to resources or social exclusion when entering labour markets. Operating for over 10 years, it has created more than 1,100 opportunities focusing on diversity as a team asset. The project continues to evolve engaging over 100 partnerships in social inclusion and has also received the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP), Inclusive Employer Brand award.