<< Objectives >>PENELOPE aims to develop, transfer, and implement innovative practices on gender mainstreaming strategies in SMEs following a cluster-based approach, through the definition of guidelines for cluster organizations’ staff, the support of SMEs in building gender-inclusive cultures, promoting online cooperation and blended learning opportunities among Industry Clusters and SMEs in the field, and the development of a methodology for EU clusters to implement Gender Mainstreaming training for SMEs.<< Implementation >>PENELOPE includes implementation activities to develop the expected results that will involve partners, associated partners and target groups, like interviews, compilation of good practices, design of training paths, production of didactic content, testing, evaluation and improvement. It also includes activities to ensure the adequate planning, implementation and follow-up and an efficient collaboration, as well as online and physical activities to share, explain and promote the results.<< Results >>- A pioneer and innovative training handbook specifically developed for clusters’ staff towards gender mainstreaming.- A video toolkit on gender equality strategies for SMEs to build gender-inclusive company cultures.- An innovative Virtual Learning Environment that facilitates online cooperation and blended learning opportunities.- A defined methodology for European clusters to implement their own gender mainstreaming training for their associated companies, focusing specially on the SMEs.

The empowerment of women at a global scale is, in all certainty, one of the most remarkable social revolutions of the twentieth century: millions of women worldwide who used to depend economically on men fought to be able to take solely control of their own fates. With women having filled six million of the eight million new jobs created in the last 15 years, recent studies show that, not only women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality, but also that companies greatly benefit from increasing employment and leadership opportunities for women, which is shown to enhance organizational effectiveness and growth.Nevertheless, in spite of the general trend for gender equality policies in society and in the labour market, gender gaps persist in Europe, were the boards of largest listed companies across the 28 EU Member States had 28 % women and 72 % men in April 2019.As women represent half of the global talent pool, it's imperative that they should have the same opportunities to be at the forefront of the European economic and social scene.'Women in Power' wants to come up as a tool to support equality and gender-balanced corporate boardrooms by giving women working in the traditional sectors (footwear, textile and furniture) the opportunity to acquire abilities and competences that can enhance their sectoral skills and make it possible for them to reach top executive roles, therefore promoting gender equality and the advancement of women in Europe.The European consortium gathered to carry out this project is composed by seven VET providers, business associations and professional women associations from Spain, Lithuania, United Kingdom, Romania and Malta. At the end of the project three intellectual outputs have been developed: - IO1: a report that identifies and compiles what skills and competences have helped women from different nationalities, sectors and backgrounds to move up within their professions, and what learning needs they have to continue growing in their careers. - IO2: a complete course for women to promote basic and transversal skills in order to achieve executive roles within their industries.- IO3: an intuitive and innovative platform that hosts the designed training path, increasing social capital, competencies and professional skills of women.The final ‘Women in Power’ training course can be accessed at http://training.womeninpower.eu/With an estimation of more than 89,306 people directly reached of all target groups identified by the project partners and over 9.000.000 potential impacts in radio, TV and digital media, the project will ultimately provide the development that women need in order to be empowered in furthering their career. The effect of this project is anticipated for women inside or outside the corporate mainstream, including entrepreneurs, academics, civil servants and senior women with professional service backgrounds.The development of this project will assist in raising awareness with policy makers, stakeholders and general public of the issue through seminars and project dissemination in general (press conferences, events, online materials and news), as well as give room for potential legislative solutions. It will also increase the number of people discussing the issue of women and leadership in relevant industries, as well as trainers' awareness of needs of women education towards professional empowerment.Furthermore, the project outcomes (freely available in different languages) can be widely applicable and used well beyond the countries involved in the project, serving also as a basis for further development and adaptation to various contexts.