Winners crowned in 48 trades at Denmark’s national skills championship

Denmark’s largest vocational skills competition, DM i Skills, has concluded in Hjørring with 56 young competitors awarded gold medals across 48 different trades, DR reports.

The three-day event, organised by SkillsDenmark, saw nearly 300 participants from vocational education programmes compete in fields ranging from baking and bricklaying to carpentry and roofing. Each trade produced one or two winners, with a total of 56 medals awarded.

Søren Heisel, chairman of SkillsDenmark, praised the participants’ performance, stating: “We have seen young people deliver craftsmanship and professionalism of absolute world-class standard. There is so much talent and dedication in Denmark, which bodes very well for the future of skilled trades in this country.”

According to Hjørring Municipality, the event attracted around 50,000 visitors, including students, parents, and industry professionals. Attendees could observe the competitions and try their hand at various trades. Local winner Caroline Kammer Olesen, from Sosu Nord, was highlighted for her gold medal in the social and healthcare assistant category.

The championship aims to inspire more young people to pursue vocational education. Despite a national political target of 30% of school leavers enrolling in such programmes, only 19% did so this year, according to the Ministry of Children and Education.

Future editions of DM i Skills will be held in Vejle (2027) and Næstved (2028).