Nordic-Baltic Digital Careers Services Summit
9-10th November 2026
Introduction
Welcome to the information hub for the Nordic-Baltic Summit for Digital Careers Services. We’ll aim to keep this page up to date as we move towards the 2026 event.
Scotland is hosting the 2026 Summit, following on from the successful event hosted in 2025 by Lithuania. In total, 9 countries will come together from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Scotland.
2026 Summit
The venue for the 2026 Summit is Imaginex, Yotel, Edinburgh, which is located in central Edinburgh.
The event is being shaped collaboratively by a representative organising group, meeting monthly to define the overall approach for the event, the themes we’ll cover, speakers and logistics.
This year there will be external speakers to provide inspiration and provocation, short demonstrations from member countries, dynamic round table discussions and an action-oriented output that will be shared with participants. There is also consideration being given to young people participating.
Register
Please note: The Nordic-Baltic Summit for Digital Career Services is invite only, which will be managed by attendees of the organising group. Contact derek.hawthorne@sds.co.uk should you wish to discuss attendance.
We’re really looking forward to you joining us in Scotland for the 2026 Nordic-Baltic Summit for digital careers services and delighted that you are taking the step top register.
It is useful for us to gather some information from attendees in advance so that we can properly plan and prepare for everything to run as it should. Please complete the Register Form by 30 September 2026 to book your place.
Summit Programme
The programme for the event is in draft format as we continue to engage external speakers and nations in providing inputs. Please find the outline programme below.
Day 1 - Monday 9 November
Welcome Lunch (12:15 – 13:00)
Networking lunch at YOTEL Edinburgh for an opportunity to connect before the Summit begins.
Day 1 afternoon (13:00 – 16:30)
The Summit will open with welcome remarks and context setting from James Russell, Senior Director of Transformation and Skills Development Scotland.
Session 1 - User Centred Design
Humanly, a specialist co-design agency, will kick of session with a short presentation on the importance of understanding users needs and shaping your services with them. Two nations will provide short presentations on their work, followed by group discussions.
Session 2 - Impact of AI
Jaana Kettunen, University of Jyvaskyla will take us through “What AI means for career development, guidance and workforce support system”, offering provocations and considerations to take into discussions about the future of digital careers services.
We’ll also have input from participating nations on developments and approaches taken to generate further ideas for discussion. Details to follow soon.
Day 1 Summit Close at 4:30pm
Evening Meal and Cultural Experience (18:00 – 21:30)
Each year, the host nation organises a dinner for the attendees of the Summit. This is coupled with a cultural experience that gives a little insight into the culture and heritage of the host nation.
2026 is no different, and delegates are invited to attend a dinner and cultural activity from 6pm.
More information will follow on timings and the activity. However, in keeping with tradition we will keep the cultural experience under wraps as a surprise activity.
Day 2 – Tuesday 10 November
Day 2 morning (09:15 - 12:50)
Intro & recap
We’ll start day two with a quick reflection on the previous day. Run through of day before and outline plan for day 2.
Session 3 - Classroom to Work
The intention is to have a keynote speaker to provide inspiration and provocation on the theme of Classroom to Work. This is be confirmed soon.
We’ll then move into short demonstrations relating to the theme from external speakers and participating nations, followed by collaborative discussions.
Session 4 - Labour Market Outcomes Matter
The intention is to have a keynote speaker to provide inspiration and provocation on the theme of Labour Market Outcomes Matter. This is be confirmed soon.
We’ll then move into short demonstrations relating to the theme from external speakers and participating nations, followed by collaborative discussions.
Lunch & networking (12:50 – 13:50)
Day 2 afternoon (14:00 – 16:00)
Session 5 - Afternoon collaborative sessions
This session will bring together the outputs from the previous discussions and allow delegates to discuss the key emerging opportunities to share and collaborate in future.
We’ll shape up actions and next steps that we can take as a collective, enabling continued dialogue and engagement across the network.
Summit Close (16:00 – 16:15)