Finland EuroSkills 2025 brought national pride as the Finnish skills team returned from Herning, Denmark, winning one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal, along with seven Medallions for Excellence. The European championships for vocational skills concluded on Saturday evening, marking the end of an intense three-day competition that drew over 100,000 visitors.
Eighteen Finnish competitors under 25 represented the nation across a wide range of trades, including welding, machining, fashion, cooking, and restaurant service.
Daniel Romi from Perho Culinary, Tourism and Business College claimed gold in the cooking category. His outstanding performance earned him the Best of Nation award, naming him Finland’s top competitor.
“It feels incredible,” Romi said. “This took countless hours of practice and hard work. Finland’s education system and my support team are excellent. I expected strong results, but you can never predict how tough the competition will be.”
Silver was awarded to Aleksi Laine from Eduko Vocational College in the Electronics Prototyping category. Inka Nurminen and Elja Saraluoto from Salpaus Further Education secured bronze in Fashion Design and Technology, competing as a pair.
Seven Finnish competitors earned the Medallion for Excellence, awarded to those performing above the European average:
- Aapo Paunonen, CNC Milling, SASKY
- Viljami Turve, Plumbing and Heating, Tredu
- Alexander Häggman, Cabinetmaking, Optima
- Erika Ukkonen, Pâtisserie and Confectionery, Sampo
- Niina Haka, Restaurant Service, Gradia
- Lauri Mutka, Welding, Savonia
- Ronja Kaupinsalo, Bakery, WinNova
Held every two years, EuroSkills is Europe’s largest vocational skills event. Expert judges, including 19 Finnish professionals, many of them vocational teachers, assessed participants. Their work ensures high-quality training, fair evaluation, and support for emerging talent.
Skills Finland coordinates the national team’s participation in European and global competitions. Educational institutions and industry partners provide essential support to develop skills and prepare competitors for international success.
Looking ahead, Finland will participate in the WorldSkills championships in Shanghai in 2026. Helsinki will host the Abilympics for professionals with special support needs in 2027, while the next EuroSkills will take place in Düsseldorf the same year.
