National sport employment experts trained through IN-FORMS

In September 2026, EOSE delivered a three-part online training course through the IN-FORMS – Innovative Forms of Employment in Sport project, bringing together national sport employment experts from 15 European countries.

The 4.5-hour-long course created a space for experts to compare the realities of sport employment across Europe, discuss common challenges facing employers and workers, and exchange practical examples, case studies and good practice from their national contexts.

Particular attention was given to challenges around recruiting and retaining skilled staff, the prevalence of part-time, temporary and self-employed work, and the need to create more stable and attractive employment opportunities in sport.

NON-TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS AS POTENTIAL SOLUTION

Participants also explored a range of innovative and non-traditional forms of employment and considered how they could respond to the specific needs of the sport sector. These included employee sharing, platform work, intermittent permanent employment, job sharing, and voucher-based work. The sessions combined research findings with practical examples and group discussions about the opportunities, limitations and feasibility of different approaches in different countries.

The final session placed a strong emphasis on peer learning, with participants presenting examples from their own countries and discussing how innovative employment practices are already being applied in sport.

IN-FORMS RESOURCES NOW AVAILABLE

The training also introduced the wider range of resources developed through IN-FORMS, including the European research report on employment challenges and innovative forms of employment in sport, the policy recommendation paper, practical guides to non-traditional employment forms, and the new IN-FORMS toolkit for sport employers and workers.

Beyond the training itself, the course helped establish new connections between employment experts across Europe. Participants discussed the potential to continue this cooperation through an ongoing European network, providing a space to exchange knowledge and good practice, discuss emerging employment challenges and identify practical solutions for the sport sector.

We would like to thank the participants for taking an active part in the course and are looking forward to working together with the group towards building a sustainable, professional workforce for the sport sector.