Lleida will host the first Trades Fair from March 15-19, transforming it into "the epicenter of FP in Catalonia" for four days. The fair will feature two major innovations: the first-time unification of all Catskills competitions in a single space and time, and workshops focused on the 2030 horizon for Catalan trades. This event, co-organized with the Lleida City Council and the Provincial Council of Lleida, will take place at the Palau de Vidre and the Fira de Lleida.
The unification of Catskills will allow the 35 competition tests to be concentrated in a single venue, where around 300 participants will demonstrate their skills. The championship will serve to select Catalan representatives for the national Spainskills competition. The event will involve over 140 educational centers and nearly 250 teachers, with thousands of visitors expected, including students, families, faculty, companies, and administration representatives. It will be a key space for vocational guidance for ESO and baccalaureate students.
The mayor of Lleida, Fèlix Larrosa, has positively assessed the Generalitat's choice of the city to host this new format of Catskills, considering it "a great opportunity and also a recognition." Larrosa highlighted that the event "will turn Lleida into a major showcase for Vocational Training" and will allow the talent of local students and centers to be displayed. He emphasized the importance of FP for the city's growth and the need for qualified talent.
One of the main novelties will be the pioneering incorporation in Spain of the Artificial Intelligence Skill applied to industrial sectors, which will be presented in a demonstrative phase. The Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Esther Niubó, stated that Catskills "are pure talent taken to the competition of trades" and an incentive for FP students, demonstrating the "good health" of the professionalizing education system.
The event will also include the first Trades Workshops, with presentations focused on the 2030 horizon. The Government will present a Declaration with 10 objectives to guide the educational response to the needs of productive sectors and territories, aiming for a transversal document reflecting the Executive's shared goals. Minister Niubó noted it will be "a necessary and essential perspective to guide the professionalizing system towards future jobs."
“"FP is the future, it is talent, and it is employment. The goal is a Lleida that trains talent, generates opportunities, and is capable of retaining that talent here."
