Upskilling and Reskilling for the Future of Work in Retail

The webinar will open with a keynote contribution from DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), providing a European policy perspective on skills, workforce development and the future of work. This will help situate the discussion within broader EU priorities, particularly in relation to lifelong learning and labour market transitions.

The main session will be delivered by Retail Ireland Skillnet, drawing on direct experience in designing and delivering training for the retail sector. The session will focus on key themes shaping the future workplace, including:

• Contemporary workplace trends and how retail roles are evolving
• The growing importance of employee experience in attracting and retaining talent
• The changing role of leaders and managers, particularly in more dynamic and digitally enabled environments
• The skills needed for the modern workplace, including adaptability, digital capability and customer engagement

Rather than taking a purely theoretical approach, the webinar will focus on practical insights and real-world experience, offering participants a sector-grounded perspective on current challenges and opportunities.

A key feature of the session will be the opportunity for participants to engage and share perspectives across different national contexts. By bringing together learners, workers and stakeholders from across countries, the webinar will enable exchange on how these trends are playing out in different retail environments, highlighting both common challenges and local variations.

This collaborative, cross-border dimension reflects the broader aims of the Skills4Retail initiative, which seeks to strengthen skills development in the retail sector through cooperation, innovation and shared learning across Europe.

The webinar is open to learners, workers and professionals with an interest in the future of retail and workforce development.