Shaping the Skill Agenda Together
Connecting the Soft Skill dots in Limburg
Soft Skills Connect, a networking event for soft skills providers, companies, and organisations
Overview
What has been done
The pilot tested a new approach to territorial cooperation on soft skills by creating a physical networking event focused on soft skills. Its aim was to strengthen structural partnerships and knowledge exchange between soft skills providers, companies, and regional organisations. Soft skills providers from across Limburg, together with companies seeking support in soft skills development, were invited to the headquarters of BEWEL, a social enterprise with several locations in Limburg. The evening started with an introduction and a keynote presentation on DISKKO, BEWEL’s programme for employee development. This was followed by intensive speed-dating sessions and an informal networking reception, allowing participants to exchange ideas, build contacts, and inspire one another.
Why was it needed locally
Building a strong network of soft skills providers in Limburg is essential to address the growing labour market mismatch and support the region’s industrial transition. Stronger cooperation helps jobseekers and employees become more adaptable, resilient, and productive. At the same time, it enables companies to access the expertise needed to strengthen transversal and future-oriented skills within their workforce. This contributes to sustainable economic growth and stronger regional cooperation.
Target Groups: How were they activated and their benefits
Adult training centre – Soft skills trainers
Activation: We launched an open call through social media channels such as LinkedIn and Facebook to identify and reach relevant soft skills providers. This was followed by targeted personal invitations encouraging them to register for the event.
Benefit: Participants gained inspiration from the DISKKO model presented by BEWEL and established many new contacts through the speed-dating sessions and networking reception.
Industrial / technological SME – Companies working with BEWEL
Activation: BEWEL invited companies from its existing business network and partner organisations. In addition, Stebo mobilised its own regional company network to encourage participation.
Benefit: Companies connected directly with local soft skills providers to address their needs for soft skills development and workforce resilience.
Resources Required
Staff
1 staff member with strong organising skills (event organisation and planning)
Space
Conference room at BEWEL + extra space for speed date and network drink
Equipment
Beamer and screen, F&B, badges for the participants, speed date materials, such as pitch & connects cards, pens
Budget
Small: below 2,000 €
Budget of approx. 2.000 euro covering venue, F&B, materials and equipment (depending on number of participants)
Methods & Steps
Core Mechanism
Formats applied
Network / platform:
The pilot was organised as a physical networking platform bringing together soft skills providers, companies, and regional stakeholders. The event created opportunities for participants to exchange experiences, present challenges and solutions, and establish new professional connections. By combining formal presentations with interactive networking methods, the format encouraged both inspiration and concrete collaboration opportunities.
Methods used: Keynote presentation: A keynote presentation can strongly contribute to a networking event by providing inspiration, practical insights, and a shared starting point for discussion. In this pilot, the keynote on the DISKKO programme of BEWEL demonstrated a real-life example of soft skills development in practice, helping participants reflect on their own approaches and challenges. It also created a common language and context for the networking activities that followed.Pitch & Connect speed date: The “Pitch & Connect” speed-dating method stimulated fast and focused exchanges between participants. Soft skills providers briefly presented their expertise and services, while companies shared their challenges and needs regarding workforce development. This method encouraged new connections between providers and companies, but also among providers themselves, creating opportunities for future partnerships and territorial cooperation around soft skills.
Networking reception: The networking reception at the end of the evening created an informal setting for deeper conversations and relationship building. Participants could continue discussions started during the speed-dating sessions, meet people they had not yet spoken to, and explore concrete collaboration opportunities in a relaxed atmosphere. This informal interaction helped strengthen trust and long-term connections within the regional network.
Steps taken
Mapping soft skills providers and trainers in the Region
6–3 months prior to the event
- Launch online call: Publish announcements on the website, LinkedIn, and Facebook to identify soft skills providers and trainers in the region.
- Create database: Collect and structure all contact details in one central database for communication and follow-up.
Event organisation and planning
6–3 months prior to the event
- Book venue: Select and reserve a suitable venue that supports networking, presentations, and interactive activities.
- Organise catering (F&B): Coordinate food and beverage arrangements with a catering company to support the networking atmosphere.
- Develop programme content: Design the flow of the networking event, prepare the programme, and define the methods and interaction formats.
- Coordinate keynote speakers: Align with keynote speakers on the content, duration, timing, and target audience of their presentations.
- Prepare materials: Arrange all practical materials needed for the event, such as badges, presentation equipment, pens, paper, and signage.
Invite participants
2 months – 1 week prior to the event
- Invitation e-mail to database: Write and distribute a clear and engaging invitation explaining who, what, when, where, and why, to encourage registrations.
- Brief partners and stakeholders: Inform project partners and regional stakeholders and invite relevant organisations and companies to participate.
- Reminder communication: Send a final reminder message shortly before the event to maximise attendance and engagement.
Event execution
1 day
- Venue preparation: Prepare the venue, presentation spaces, registration desk, and networking areas before participants arrive.
- Welcome participants: Receive guests with badges, refreshments, and an informal networking start at thematic tables.
- Introduction: Present the goals and context of the networking event and explain the purpose.
- Keynote practice case: Showcase the DISKKO programme as a practical example of soft skills development within a social enterprise environment.
- Pitch & Connect speed date: Match supply and demand through short three-minute conversations between companies and soft skills providers.
- Networking reception: Facilitate informal networking and create space for concrete follow-up discussions and new partnerships.
After the event
within 6 weeks after event
- Communication and follow-up: Send a thank-you e-mail to participants, share a photo report and participant list, and publish updates on the website and social media.
- Evaluation: Collect feedback from participants to evaluate the event format, networking impact, and opportunities for improvement.
Results
Measurable and Direct Outcomes
The local action brought about the following concrete results:
- Business models: The pilot stimulated companies and soft skills providers to reflect on new ways of integrating soft skills into workforce development strategies. Participants exchanged concrete practices and approaches that can strengthen employee resilience, communication, and adaptability within changing industrial contexts.
- New / enhanced cooperation: More than 50 participants from companies, organisations, and soft skills providers connected during the event. The “Pitch & Connect” sessions resulted in several new collaborations and follow-up discussions between providers and companies, as well as among providers themselves.
- Stakeholder awareness / network extensions: The pilot significantly increased visibility of local soft skills providers and trainers who were previously less connected to the regional ecosystem. It also strengthened awareness of the importance of soft skills in industrial transition and created a stronger territorial network around the topic.
Indirect Impacts
The pilot uncovered hidden expertise by connecting previously unknown soft skills providers and trainers to the regional network. The DISKKO keynote of BEWEL increased awareness of innovative soft skills practices among companies and partners. The event also strengthened dialogue on workplace diversity, communication, and resilience, while laying the foundation for future regional cooperation and follow-up editions.
Local Outlook / Follow-up
- Organising future networking editions: Based on the positive feedback, the partners intend to organise similar networking events in the future. The format proved to be an accessible and effective way to connect companies, soft skills providers, and regional stakeholders.
- Strengthening the regional soft skills network: The pilot partners aim to further expand and maintain the database and network of soft skills providers in Limburg. This can support future matchmaking activities, collaborations, and regional initiatives around workforce development.
- Integrating soft skills into regional transition strategies: The experiences and insights will be used as input for future regional strategies on labour market transition and innovation. The event demonstrated the importance of transversal skills for companies facing industrial and societal change.
- Developing thematic follow-up sessions: Future editions could focus on specific themes identified during the pilot, such as communication leadership, diversity in the workplace, or resilience within teams. This would allow deeper exchange of expertise and more targeted collaboration between companies and providers.
Evaluation
Satisfaction - Overview
Participants were highly satisfied with the event, particularly with the diversity and quality of the 50+ participants, the inspiring keynote, and the interactive format of the evening. Many appreciated the combination of keynote presentations, speed-dating sessions, and informal networking opportunities, which resulted in numerous new contacts and collaboration ideas.
Satisfaction - Details
- Strong appreciation for practical inspiration: Participants highly valued the practical keynote on the DISKKO programme. This feedback confirmed the relevance of sharing real-life examples during networking events.
- High engagement during “Pitch & Connect”: During the speed-dating sessions, participants exchanged needs, expertise, and ideas in more than 10 rotation rounds. The conversations generated concrete collaboration opportunities and continued spontaneously during the networking reception afterwards, demonstrating strong engagement and interest.
- Clear identification of regional soft skills challenges: The event highlighted two major challenges: managing increasingly diverse teams and improving communication skills among team leaders. These insights confirmed that soft skills are essential for sustainable innovation, workforce resilience, and successful industrial transition.
Transfer Hints
- Combine inspiration with networking: Mix keynote presentations with interactive networking methods such as speed-dating. This creates both inspiration and concrete collaboration opportunities.
- Use practical real-life cases: Showcase concrete examples, such as the DISKKO programme of BEWEL, to make soft skills development tangible and relatable for participants.
- Bring companies and providers together physically: A physical event helps build trust, informal connections, and lasting partnerships more effectively than online-only formats.
- Adapt the event size: The format works for both small local groups and larger regional networks, depending on available resources and target audiences.
- Adjust the networking methods: Instead of speed-dating, organisers can use roundtables, workshops, or panel discussions while maintaining the networking objective.
- Work with different types of partners: The format can easily involve educational institutions, labour market actors, municipalities, or sector organisations alongside companies and trainers.
- Avoid overly long presentations: Keep keynote sessions concise and interactive to maintain energy and maximise networking time.
- Do not skip follow-up communication: Without post-event follow-up, many promising contacts and collaboration opportunities may be lost.
Participant Testimonials & Impressions
Impressions
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Access the complete implementation guide and connect with the team
Contact: Esther Vandebroek
Phone: +32 488 816 955
Email: esther.vandebroek@stebo.be
Need more information?
Project manager:
Franziska Görmar
IfL - Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Germany
Email
This project is supported by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme with co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund.
Find more information about the x-Inno Radar project on the Interreg CE projectwebsite.
x-Inno Radar is a project of: 
Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria Gmbh, 
The Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Karlovy Vary Region, 
Padova Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture, 
Creative Industry Košice, n. o., 
BSC, Business support centre, ltd., Kranj, 
Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała, 
Stebo Competence Centre Community Developmentm, 
Association of Cultural and Creative Industries Chemnitz and Region (Creative Chemnitz), Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography – Germany, Otelo Cooperative