Hospitality and Tourism including Eco-tourism - Pan-European Partner-Finding Webinar - VET

This pan-European partner-finding webinar will bring together UK vocational education and training (VET) organisations and European counterparts to explore opportunities for collaboration across the hospitality and tourism sector, including eco-tourism and sustainable tourism. The event will support the development of a skilled, innovative and sustainable workforce, aligned with the UK Industrial Strategy and the evolving needs of the visitor economy.

The hospitality and tourism sector is undergoing significant transformation, driven by changing visitor expectations, digitalisation, sustainability, environmental challenges and the need for new skills and innovative approaches to delivering high-quality visitor experiences. High-quality vocational education and training is essential to preparing learners, apprentices and the existing workforce for these changing demands and supporting a competitive and sustainable tourism industry.

The webinar will provide a platform for UK colleges, training providers, awarding bodies, tourism organisations, hospitality providers, sector skills organisations and other stakeholders to connect with potential European partners, share expertise and identify opportunities for transnational cooperation.

Key themes may include hospitality management, professional cookery, food and beverage, hotel operations, visitor attractions, travel and tourism, events, digital tourism, destination management, eco-tourism and sustainable tourism. Other areas may include sustainable hospitality practices, responsible tourism, environmental management, cultural heritage, outdoor and adventure tourism, accessible tourism, apprenticeship development, work-based learning, employer engagement and innovative approaches to curriculum and workforce development.

With the UK set to join the Erasmus+ programme in January 2027, the webinar offers an opportunity to establish European partnerships, explore learner and staff mobility, and develop collaborative education and training projects. Participants will be encouraged to identify shared priorities and prepare for relevant KA1 mobility and KA2 cooperation opportunities and application deadlines in 2027.

Partner Matchmaking: How to Prepare

We will facilitate partner matchmaking through breakout rooms and Padlet. Please come prepared to share the following information:

• Organisation profile: A brief introduction to your organisation, key contact details and a link to your website.
• Project interests: Are you interested in a KA1 learner or staff mobility project, or a KA2 cooperation partnership?
• Sector specialisms: Which areas are you interested in exploring? For example, hospitality, culinary arts, hotel management, travel and tourism, events, visitor attractions, eco-tourism, sustainable tourism, cultural heritage or outdoor tourism.
• Partnership opportunities: What expertise, facilities, training programmes, employer links or project ideas could your organisation contribute to a European partnership?

The webinar aims to build lasting UK-European partnerships that connect vocational education and training with industry priorities, support future Erasmus+ opportunities and contribute to a skilled, sustainable and innovative hospitality and tourism workforce.