STEP: Sustainable Training for Event Professionals

Can events help change the world? With STEP, they can. The project is developing a completely free and openly accessible training programme for event planners. It gives professionals and students practical knowledge and skills to help make the European events sector more sustainable. The aim is to create a sector that can set an example for other industries. STEP provides a practical learning environment for people across Europe, with knowledge and tools that can be applied directly in day-to-day practice.

Project rationale 

The European events sector has a significant environmental footprint due to energy use, travel, material consumption and waste. Despite sustainability targets and guidelines, professionals often find it difficult to translate these ambitions into everyday practice. Existing training opportunities are fragmented, expensive and often difficult to access, which makes lasting behavioural change harder to achieve. At the same time, European policies such as the Green Deal call for measurable action from sectors with a major environmental impact. STEP brings together practical, validated knowledge in one coherent and accessible learning programme. Professionals and students can apply this knowledge directly, develop relevant skills and make more sustainable choices. In doing so, the events sector can also set an example for other industries.

Challenge and project approach

STEP uses a blended learning approach, combining online learning with practical workshops and pilot projects. The modular training programme includes videos, infographics, case studies and quizzes, all providing knowledge that can be applied directly in practice. A European supplier directory will also be developed, enabling professionals to easily find circular and low-carbon solutions. During the workshops, participants receive coaching and apply what they have learned to real-life event pilots. Alongside this, a Community of Practice will be established to encourage knowledge sharing, peer learning and lasting sustainable behaviour change, continuing beyond the end of the project.

Project team

The STEP project is delivered by an international consortium of five partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovakia. The team brings together expertise in sustainable event management, higher education, vocational education and training (VET), online learning and sector representation. The project is coordinated by VO Group SA (Belgium). ETFI at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) contributes academic research and quality assurance. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Spain) is responsible for developing the online learning platform and training materials. Creative Pro a.s. (Slovakia) and Confederation Events (Belgium) connect the project with professional practice. Where possible, students are involved in both the development process and the pilot activities.

Key expected outcomes

The project will deliver a coherent and scalable training programme in sustainable event management, accessible to professionals and educators across Europe. It is expected to train 400 event professionals and students and support the delivery of 40 sustainable event pilots. STEP will also establish a lasting Community of Practice and a supplier directory, making it easier to make sustainable choices in day-to-day practice. The project strengthens vocational education and training (VET), encourages collaboration between vocational and higher education, develops professional skills and accelerates the adoption of circular and climate-friendly practices across the sector. In this way, STEP contributes to a more sustainable events sector that can serve as an example for other industries.

Project partners

• VO Group (Belgium) – Expert in sustainable event management

• Creative Pro (Slovakia) – International events agency operating across Central and Eastern Europe

• Universitat Oberta de Catalunya – UOC (Spain) – One of Europe’s leading online universities

• Confederation Events (Belgium) – National umbrella organisation for the Belgian events sector