Every time you turn on a water-saving tap, enjoy a warm shower, or benefit from an energy-efficient heating system, you are experiencing the work of a skilled installer. At LIXIL, our purpose is to make better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. But that promise doesn't come to life in a design studio or a factory. It happens on the ground, through the hands of skilled trades people.
Right now, the world is facing a massive challenge. To hit Europe's vital climate and renovation targets, the region needs an estimated 3 million additional trained professionals by 2030. Yet, as seasoned professionals retire, fewer young people are choosing this path. Put simply: you can design the most resource-conscious technology in the world, but we can bring that innovation to life in people's homes only if there is someone qualified to install it.
The stereotype of the "dirty job" is completely outdated. Modern installers are high-tech professionals managing smart home tech, digital tools, and the green transition. It is a rewarding, stable, and completely "AI-proof" career path, but the policy and education frameworks surrounding it need to catch up.
What We Are Doing
We aren’t just observing this gap; we are working to close it. Across the world, we train and upskill thousands of installers with dedicated programs, with modular, hands-on, practical training for new installers and veterans, such as our GROHE GIVE Program. Through GIVE, we partner with over 70 vocational schools to train more than 2,500 students every single year; an example of our long-term commitment to supporting installers in their development.
Our Six Asks for Action
We have submitted a formal Position Paper to the European Union Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy. We are calling on policymakers to partner with the industry on six key areas to help recognize industry-led programs, build a unified European framework for qualifications, introduce new modular approaches to certification and invest in the image of the profession.
If you would like to know more about our detailed recommendations for expanding the global skilled labor pipeline, download our position paper below.