The Fundación Laboral de la Construcción has participated this week in Berlin (Germany) in the first meeting of the European project 'Drone4Build'. This international meeting marks the start of one of the two new European initiatives in which the joint entity is involved. The other is 'BUILD UP Skills United' ('BUSUnited'), which was launched last September.

Both projects, which have an international scope, reinforce the role of the Fundación Laboral as a key agent in promoting training, innovation and sustainability in the construction sector, and are aligned with other initiatives it coordinates at European level, such as 'Construye 2030plus' and 'Construction Blueprint 2'.

The use of drones in building refurbishment and renovation

‘Drone4Build’ is a project co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme and coordinated by Abstract Technology (Germany), whose main objective is to improve the knowledge and skills of construction professionals in the use of drones, thereby driving the digitalisation of the sector.

The Fundación Laboral is part of the project consortium, consisting of seven organisations from five European countries (Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy and the Republic of North Macedonia), which will work together for two years to improve professional qualifications in areas such as building renovation and energy efficiency.

The project’s main activities will focus on the digitalisation of the sector, the development of new professional skills and the adaptation of training to the demands arising from the digital and green transitions, contributing to more innovative, safe and sustainable construction.

A European community for the development of skills in sustainable energy

In addition to ‘Drone4Build’, the Fundación Laboral de la Construcción has been involved since September last year in the ‘BUILD UP Skills United’ ('BUSUnited') project, an initiative co-funded by the European Union’s LIFE programme.

‘BUSUnited’ aims to create and consolidate a large European community of construction sector professionals specialising in sustainable energy skills, thereby promoting the training needed to move towards more efficient and sustainable buildings.

Coordinated by the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) from Ireland, the project brings together organisations from various European Union countries, including sectoral organisations, universities and leading centres for training and sustainability.

Communities of practice to transform the sector

‘BUSUnited’ is structured around seven Communities of Practice (CoP) for the development of skills in sustainable energy, focusing on key areas such as training needs, skills recognition, innovative training methodologies, mechanisms to encourage demand for building renovation, the development of national training roadmaps, funding sources, and EU synergies.

Following its launch in September, the project has held its first in-person meeting in November in Brussels (Belgium). The consortium is currently working on the creation and consolidation of this European network, which is expected to reach 400 professionals, as well as on the organisation and operation of the various Communities of Practice. The next international meeting will take place in March 2026 in Madrid, at the joint entity’s facilities.

Synergies with the ‘Construye 2030plus’ and ‘Construction Blueprint 2’ projects

‘BUSUnited’ provides a unique platform for sharing the sector’s common challenges with other European organisations and bringing together key stakeholders to exchange solutions, experiences and innovative approaches.

Furthermore, the project enables significant synergies to be generated with other initiatives coordinated by the Fundación Laboral, such as:

• ‘Construye 2030plus’, also co-funded by the LIFE programme, which promotes training in energy efficiency and sustainability within the sector at a national level.
• ‘Construction Blueprint 2’, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme, aimed at anticipating skills needs and adapting vocational training in construction to the sector’s demands.

All these projects share a common objective: to increase the number of qualified people capable of tackling the challenges of renovation and new-build construction, in line with the requirements of European regulations on energy efficiency, sustainability and circular economy, and to address the challenges presented by the digital and green transitions in the sector.

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education System. Neither the European Union nor the granting entity can be held responsible for them.