Project context/background:The COVID-19 crisis accelerated the need for modernisation and digital transformation of training systems in Europe. CIRCULAR SME SCAN (CSS) connects this with a circular economy which is a strategic approach to a more green economy in support of European economic recovery.Circular, sustainable, environment-climate friendly operation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) results in their competitive advantage over their rivals. However the over 25 million European SMEs encounter challenges in grasping these opportunities, as they do not have the knowledge, matching financial, non-financial resources that large companies have to make the due changes. As these enterprises constitute the main body of the business ecosystem in participating countries, a strategic alliance between them and circular economy experts has to be forged. This, especially in the COVID pandemic, generates awareness on and illustrates that outstanding quality, inclusive, digital vocational education tools on circular skills and competences are beneficial for this group.Project objectives:Main goal of CSS, in support of innovative practices in digital era, aims at creating a self-scan and learning platform that develops SME circular economy skills-competences by focusing on four main areas of entire SME circularity value chain (supply-acquisition, operation-production, retail, waste stream analysis).For the delivery of the main goal, specific objectives are strongly linked with Intellectual Outputs and are:1. Framing competence & skills of SME circularity context.2. Elaborating self-scan solution in support of SME circularity. 3. Creating learning content & platform.4. Deriving stakeholder guides to take full advantage of self-scan & learning contents-platform independently, as SME ecosystem stakeholders are drivers of the change process.Making available the digital self-scan, vocational education-training contents, curricula, and online learning platform are the novelties of CSS.Number and profile of participants:Project consortium of four partners represents HU, NL, ES and GR. CSS is led by a HU regional innovation agency (STRIA) with proven record of SME skills-competence mapping and development. NL partner (BDL) from one of the first Dutch circular regions, is a professional in person and digital vocational education and training (VET) organisation. ES partner (EOLAS) is an SME innovation and management consultant company that connects business, education and government, supports organisations. Tech partner comes from GR (AVACA), responsible for self-scan, learning platform solutions, IT developments of project communication-dissemination.Description of activities:CSS starts with collecting best practices and methodologies, applying focus group interviews to illustrate SME circularity skills, knowledge-competences. Following that setting up of circularity indicators, their measurement-evaluation is done with direct SME participation via validated self-scan tool. As result of these two main preceding activities, SME circularity digital learning content, online learning platform are elaborated and pilot validated. To conclude, all relevant project outputs are summarised in stakeholder guides that aim to sustain project results by impacting professional, political actors for strengthening VET activities in service of SME circularity.Project methodology to be used in implementation:CSS project methodology is available to partners and thus EU Member States, with efficient digital, online tools-materials promotes sustainable, circular and innovative behaviours within target groups. As a result SME professional profiles and, ultimately, productivity of EU Member States increases. Methodology builds on online solutions as in lifelong learning online approach is one of key competences included in EU legislation on digital competence. Methodology is “learning to learn” characterised (another of lifelong learning competence). It also provides for customization of the learning process itself.Short description of the results and impact envisaged:Direct project target group (SMEs) intends to improve their competitiveness through increased circularity, lay foundations for new (incl. online) business opportunities, innovative initiatives, cooperation among SMEs-entrepreneurs-circular experts.Indirect target groups or stakeholders of dissemination activities are those with whom SME owners-staff and entrepreneurs will cooperate when making their business more circular in a digital era. They are impacted by awareness raising, dissemination, engagement.The potential longer term benefits:Project dissemination activities increase awareness on circular operation of SMEs, build brand and identity within target groups and their audiences. By providing targeted, digital, online information on SME circularity, CSS creates deeper understanding, latter being the other longer term benefit for target groups.

In summary, the project has reached the targets and objectives set out at the start. The Intellectual Outputs have been produced, and the project has reached a broad target group in the respective countries. Attendance to workshops and events have generally reached the tartgets, in some areas the number of participants has widely exceeded expectations.The Recruit Potential-project has addressed the challenge that the future labour market demand for specific skills in certain professions, will in many cases be higher than the supply. At the same time, there will be large categories of individuals that are outside of the labour market. The project has been directed towards a change in the employers’ strategies. A change that can result in more inclusive recruitment demands, were also individuals without all the skills traditionally required for a position could be employed. People would be recruited on their potential and then educated by the employer to reach the skills required for the position. The long-term effects of such a change in strategies are that employers will have a larger potential supply to choose from when recruiting for new positions. This will support social inclusion since groups usually not considered for an employment would now more often be given the opportunity. With inclusive HR-strategies, both for recruitment and inhouse VET, disadvantage groups like refugees, disabled, young people without experience, people with low formal education could be recruited on their potential instead of formal qualifications and experience. Barriers from the employer side could be lowered and more people included onto the labour market. The project has been targeted towards VET-training of Human Relations staff and management involved in HR-processes and special focus was on recruitment. HR-staff, Recruiters, HRBP, other HR-specialists and management are in the centre of the recruitment process and even if management usually are responsible for recruitment decision, HR-staff have a considerable influence on strategies, guidelines and policy in this area. The project Intellectual outputs are as planned;- IO1 a Classroom Course Curriculum for Inclusive HR-strategies with teachers’ packs and assessment tools. The Curriculum support the possibility to increase knowledge on the topic and promote a change in attitudes among HR-staff and management. - IO2 an Open online training course available online in different languages (English, Swedish, Portuguese and Latvian). The development of the IOs have been driven through five transnational meetings. The TNM were the project's focal points where experiences has been exchanged in a transnational setting, but also dedicated to input and feedback on the intellectual outputs. To ensure relevance for stakeholders not participating directly in the project local stakeholder groups has been set up to guarantee a link between the project and VET-stakeholders at partner level. The intellectual outputs contribute to HR personnel to reach a better understanding of the concept of Inclusion and how it could be integrated in core processes, such as recruitment and inhouse continuous VET. Through the Open online training course, the results can be used internally by organisations. Through dissemination and Multiplier Events the project has promoted the uptake . The project has been performed by five partners. Three partners are local public authorities, represented by HR specialists and management. One was a foundation partner, specialized in HR training courses and one a technical partner specialized in development of online courses and Open Educational Resources. The partners come from Sweden, Portugal, UK, Latvia, and the Netherlands.

In addition to the innovation-related services offered by EEN Northern Netherlands, this H2020 project will provide in-depth services enhancing the innovation capacity of SMEs. Due to several reasons (f.e. a lack of offers, unaffordable market prices or poor quality), consulting service offers enhancing the innovation management capacity of companies are not readily available to SMEs in many European regions, including the Northern Netherlands. This specific Horizon 2020 activity within the EEN services therefore offers mentoring and coaching services to beneficiaries with the objective to increase and accelerate economic returns from innovation. The EEN Northern NL consortium addresses this specific challenge with two service packages: 1. Key account management services for H2020 SME instrument beneficiaries: By offering key acount management services to beneficiaries of the H20202 SME instrument it will be possible to support these SME’s in their innovation process and enhance their innovation capacity. 2. Services to enhance the innovation management capacities of SMEs: particularly promising SMEs will be supported by the enhancement of their innovation management capacities. This will be done by carry out a diagnostic audit of selected SMEs that are capable of growth and successful internationalisation in order to develop and implement a tailored action plan to improve the SME’s capacity to manage innovation processes. Within the consortium expertise and knowledge on internationalisation and innovation is pooled together to offer SME's expert information, advice and coaching. This project focusses on the selection of promising SME’s within in the region and enable them to enhance their innovation capacity under the supervision of experienced innovation coaches.

<< Background >>The project is composed of interlinked activities resulting in the production of a pack with resources and methodologies adapted to the targets to be used by VET providers, social animators and tourism organisations, proposing a new multilevel and engaged learning process, mediated by real testimonies and life stories and narratives of those who have succeeded in business and who have successful companies in low-density territories.The project is intended for social educators, trainers, animators that will embrace a final target facing the greatest difficulties in finding employment, with priority being given to:* adult people 50 +, whether graduates or not, with or without training, and who are unemployed or underemployed* job seekers from urban areas that want to try new life experiences in rural areas * job seekers in rural areas.The stakeholders of the project will be Schools, Universities, Companies, Community Centres, Social and collective Associations, Professional Associations, Tourist Bodies, Vocational Training Centres, Tourism Schools, Local Development Associations, Regional and local authorities and Local Creative Industries. All these players will be involved in the project activities and events, not only by testing the results, but also acting as multiplier agents during and after the term of the project.The partners estimate that the course and its resources will reach unemployed people, VET providers, schools and other institutions in the partner’s countries.By achieving its aim, the ENTRUST project will be a huge step towards a more ambitious objective of fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, innovation and business creation and by improving the economic situation of unemployed and underemployed seniors. By creating their own job opportunities, based on traditional occupations/crafts at risk of disappearing, cultural heritage and authentic rural activities, these targets will assure a more positive individual situation as well as more sustainable low population territories. Given current gaps in the provision of effective solutions to reduce unemployment amongst people aged 50+, ENTRUST presents a training strategy for senior entrepreneurship.At the conclusion of the project, participants will understand how to:•Investigate whether their enterprise idea is feasible and undertake suitable market validation research;•Use ideation, creativity, innovation and business development tools so as to develop the necessary thinking and skills required to become an entrepreneur and to commence a new enterprise/business with a tourism/cultural and heritage focus and incorporating elements of sustainability;•Develop and manage an enterprise in a logical fashion;•Incorporate sustainability principles in the development of tourism business with a social and/or cultural heritage focus.<< Objectives >>ENTRUST is a training & development programme where people aged 50+ will be supported in bringing an idea for a sustainable tourism business from concept to commercialisation.While no prior knowledge is required, the project targets senior entrepreneurs and those over 50 who:•Are interested in researching the potential for a new sustainable tourism business idea with a social and/or cultural heritage focus;•Have retired from their previous business/career but now want to establish a new enterprise;•Who have been made redundant from a previous related position & now wish to establish their own business;•Have identified an opportunity to improve upon existing products/services in the area of sustainable tourism business with a social and/or cultural heritage focus;•Believe in the concept of active ageing & who wish to create employment and wealth creation opportunities for themselves and others;•Challenge their own skills & cognitive abilities while also contributing to the economy and their communities;•Want to sustain the social, cultural & heritage fabric of their respective regions, particularly those in rural communities;•Provide an economic/entrepreneurial underpinning in support of the conservation of cultural and environmental heritage in rural areas with tourist potential.Project’s specific objectives: 1. Promote a blended training package, and develop a programme where people aged 50+ will be supported in bringing an idea for a sustainable tourism business from concept to commercialisation, towards social sustainability, especially in low population territories;2. Create interactive tools with a view to connecting and engaging this generation of people aged 50+ years in low population territories throughout Europe;3. Provide people aged 50+ with an interactive learning platform containing relevant training and support material;4. Deliver guidelines for VET providers on using the developed materials and resources in their practice in support of the creation of business ideas based on the use of traditional tourism, culture and heritage activities at risk of disappearing.<< Implementation >>The project is managed via a global plan Project Management plan - PM. The project management methodology will ensure that project activities lead to the achievement of project objectives and delivery of the planned results.Methodological StructureMethodology combines related practices, methods and processes that determine how to better plan, develop, control and deliver the project during its implementation until its successful completion. It is a systematic, controlled, evidence-based approach, describing each step in depth, so that the project team knows what to do to implement the work according to the target group's schedule, budget, and specification.- Definition of the need of a target group- Established a common language- Cost estimates are complete, accurate and reliable- The products use a common methodological approach- Most conflicts are detected/resolved early- Deliverables and expected solutions are implemented quicklyActivities to be carried out under Project Management:In addition to evaluation, monitoring and quality assurance, project management will include:*Dissemination & exploitation, sustainability and impact*The dissemination strategy will provide information about the project and results and will create awareness amongst the target groups to encourage their use of the outputs as well as encouraging decision-makers to consider ENTRUST in policy-making.DisseminationThe 1st meeting of the project will result in a plan based on regular campaigns, online visibility, participation in public events and cooperation network, close to the target public and stakeholders.Website is created and maintained for another 5 years after the end of the funding period.Website, in the 4 partner languages, includes: Landing page; Home: attractive image, vision, languages and social media; Project: history and context, goals, transnational meetings, photo and video gallery, partners; Generic presentation of the outputs and the availability of links to the platform, in the 4 languages.Channels and promotional material are as diversified as possible and partners take every opportunity to present the project at public events and use their networks for dissemination cooperation.Newsletters and brochures: 4 marketing campaigns using newsletters with updated information about the project, activities and achievements, issued by MailChimp, or similar platform.ConferenceAlso planned are 2 flyers: 1 at the beginning for project promotion, including goals, partnership agreement, operational plan for project development, dedicated social media and project dissemination plan, and a final flyer to promote the ENTRUST package.Exploitation, Sustainability and ImpactThe 3rd meeting presents an Exploitation, Sustainability and Impact plan to ensure the sustainability of the project after its completion, and will address:- IPR - Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights: a multilateral agreement on intellectual property clarifying the public and common rights of use of the products originated by the project.- Stakeholders support statement: at the end of the project, each partner identifies stakeholders organisations who will agree to make sustainable use of the ENTRUST package. An online version is available- Guidelines and detailed agenda for the Final Conference- Make the package available to key actors and stakeholders to persuade them to adopt the project results. Distribution at the final conferencesThe Reports to be submitted to NA is supported by Interim and Final Reporting of Dissemination & Exploitation, Sustainability and Impact, with input from all partners. Summary of all the evaluation activities, as well as the results achieved, will be made.<< Results >>R1 - Course / curriculum – Design and developmentThe project curriculum is a methodological document and guides the development of Course (R2), and Platform( R3) activities. Its development is preceded by knowledge transfer, literature review and target group survey. It supports the understanding the associated problem through theories, frameworks and other structures that exist in the literature and that allow the practical implementation of the course (R2) and platform (R3) that will support it.R2 – CourseThe course is an excellent and innovative opportunity to empower and develop the capacities of adult educators and trainers to ensure their role in linking the needs of learners from diverse social backgrounds to share key values such as their contribution to social cohesion and the preservation of heritage and culture, and to prevent and combat depopulation in rural areas. Based on a participatory, holistic and learning-centered strategy, adult educators will have the opportunity to participate in a unique learning experience in a diverse and supportive environment in a creative process, enabling them to learn by doing, through new methodologies mediated by documentaries of good practices, well adapted to the target audience needs. Documentaries will be used to break down stereotypes and inspire new life stories. The subject of this result is divided in 2 parts: the content-based part, including opportunities to learn from best practices in the field. The second part is activity-based, combining the interactive tools provided on the platform, allowing participants to create new ideas and work collaboratively.R3- PlatformThis intellectual output provides the development of the ENTRUST platform and the programming of e- tools (self-assessment, collaborative network, creative lab).The platform will be built from an open-source platform, such as Moodle, which allows the creation of custom learning environments. It will be user-centered, offering the creation of management and personal profiles through a simple process of sign-up and supporting the evolution of the learning process. The platform should use gamification techniques, which make the learning experience more appealing, involving the participants more. Some of these techniques include:- Progression: moving gradually to more complicated learning material, from theoretical content through analysis of documentaries to the development of self-assessment and job creation actions; - Challenges: problem-based exercises, which the learner should resolve to progress towards training completion; - Meaningful choices: give participants the possibility to create their own trail/pathway; - Social interaction: collaborating with peers for solving common problems using the interactive tools, exchanging ideas in a forum or at the collaborative network; - Achievement: collecting points for the completion of certain learning paths, culminating in the award of a completion certificate path.R4 – Guidelines - Learning / teaching / training material – Manual / handbook / guidance materialGuidelines for VET Providers introduce the ENTRUST rationale / approach for the target audience and illustrates how to use the assets in the ENTRUST pack (Curriculum, Course, e-tools within the e-platform, etc.). It also presents the session plans for the modules and units of the training program to be applied in full and suggestions of activities that adult educators/trainers can use in their training activities, taken from the Course. The requirements for receiving a Certificate of achievement on the training end will also be presented. These guidelines aim to explain the nature of the ENTRUST training material and to encourage VET providers to use them. It will explain how trainers should guide and support learners throughout the blended learning course. It will also give recommendations for adopting the ENTRUST material to face-to-face training sessions if needed.

<< Background >>EU regulations have established a climate recovery path which is addressed from the market with circular economy strategies. As such, a new Circular Economy Action Plan part of the EU Green Deal, has been launched for a cleaner and more competitive Europe (a need which has intensified due to COVID-19). It focuses on sectors with a higher potential for circularity, such as plastics.Around 25 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced each year and recycling does not even reach a third of it and reducing its production and use is a long-term action. The revaluation of plastics offers a third way to tackle the plastic waste challenge with lower CO2 emissions than recycling.Revaluation considers plastic waste as an asset, which can be capitalized through creativity and invention capacity, i.e., not only using plastic waste discarded products (or its parts) in a new product with a different function (called repurpose) but creates added value through a new product or feature that can be monetized. In this setting, SMEs are key for a circular economy transformation and turn their plastic waste into value. The trends not only in regulations, mentioned before, but also the more environmentally conscious behaviour of consumers, creates a perfect breeding ground for those SMEs that are able to seize the opportunities this offers. Those with a solid circularity approach stand to gain. The way an SME manages its waste is part of the equation and being able to go beyond mere recycling and actually create value from waste, can give them a competitive edge. However, SMEs and in particular the smaller ones, do not have the in-house knowledge, experts, or resources of larger companies, nor can they afford on many occasions the costs of external consultancy. Their lack of know-how impedes them to implement any sort of green processes (e.g., certification) or to be more competitive and take part in the market’s circular transition. Thus, a need for more “green professionals” in the market is pointed out.There is a clear lack of professionals capable of initiating plastic revaluation, thus, current and future professionals need to achieve the circular skills demanded for such revaluation processes.To keep up with the demands of SMEs and the labour market, VET institutions need to adapt their training offer and respond to market and environmental needs. They need to understand plastic revaluation and its related processes and get updated knowledge and practices on how to apply co-creation and co-design approaches to plastic revaluation. This requires a learning process for them as well.<< Objectives >>PlasticValue fills the aforementioned challenges and gaps, with the final goal of preparing current and future professionals in particular those in innovation, production or transformation related areas, for making the turn-around, revalue their plastic waste (using co-creation & co-design approaches) and take full advantage of the opportunities it offers. As such, the project focuses not only on assisting the SMEs to become more circular, but also on offering VET bodies an updated learning programme which addresses circular economy challenges.We focus on professionals active in innovation, production and transformation-related areas, but also consider SME managers for a greater impact. Wider SME staff will also benefit from the awareness raising activities to ease the transition while specific guidelines will be designed to assist SMEs on the transformation and consolidate circular economy principles.The blended learning methodology designed for the programme will facilitate a work-based learning approach which will benefit participants on their learning process.In addition, PlasticValue will support (C-)VET them by providing a ready to use and validated learning programme, with complementary guidelines on how to consolidate it within the initial (intermediate and higher level) VET curricula.Specific objectives are:1) Develop a validated learning programme which offers a combination of innovative and green sectoral skills to achieve plastic waste revaluation using innovative co-creation and co-design approaches.2) Implement a validation strategy, which integrates different profiles from businesses and C-VET (teachers and learners) providing a work-based learning approach.3) Create forward-looking guidelines to support (C-)VET organizations in adapting their training offer and creating new curricula, related to plastic revaluation, in line with the professional’s and market’s needs, and enhancing green competences. 4) Create a digital space to share plastic revaluation best practices, inspiring and motivating future and current professionals to become agents of environmental change.5) Enable a new VET profile in the field of plastic waste revaluation with a strong circular skillset and be competitive to upfront labour market changes.This is how PlasticValue trains the professionals of the future on innovative green skills, addresses the SME challenges with regards to plastic waste and upgrades (C-)VET education and training to meet market needs.<< Implementation >>The project is designed in 4 Project Results and 10 Multiplier Events. To establish a solid base for the project, PR1 “Co-creation & co-design practices for plastic revaluation” will undertake a case studies analysis for plastic revaluation, and the definition of the competence framework and the blended learning approach to be implemented.PR2 “(On-line) learning programme and platform implementation” will carry out the technical development of the platform, the development of the learning content and a methodology to assess participants’ skills.PR3 “PlasticValue support materials, methods and tools” has a more interactive and practical approach. It will conduct pilot activities which are aimed to involve targeted participants in the validation of the PlasticValue learning programme developed, including the content, the methods and tools and the platform created. An improved final version of the learning programme will be delivered at the end together with a success-stories showcase section. Finally, PR4 “Insights and experiences for stakeholders” will focus on the development of 4 specific guidelines based on the project outcomes and participant’s results addressed to the projects main target and stakeholders: SMEs, (C-)VET organizations, business hubs and public administrations. The participation is varied regarding profile and number throughout the project depending on the activity. The pilots, which are divided in 3 types of testing, internal, on-line and on-site, will reach a total of 200 participants. In addition, more than 250 participants will be involved in the multiplier events.<< Results >>Current and future professionals will acquire a set of skills and competences that allow them to analyse the plastic waste generated by their organization in any stage of provision, production, transformation and/or delivery and develop new uses, products or services; as well as to create and participate in multi-disciplinary teams which co-create and co-design (prototypes of) new product and services to re-use and revalue the plastic waste. In a setting in which the reduction of the environmental impact across the whole value chain is considered a key competence, these professionals acquire a set of green skills which, pivotal in the circular transition of the European SMEs. This increases their employability and enhances their career development opportunities on the labour market. SMEs, through the revaluation of their plastic waste, can:• Reduce their provision costs (if the waste can be used as input for the production, transformation or delivery process).• Generate a new product or service which can be offered to their clients, being it businesses further down the value chain, or being it the final consumer.• Reduce the costs related to waste management, as (part of) their plastic waste is re-valued within the company's processes.• Enhance their corporate social responsibility either through the reduction of plastic waste “thrown” into society and the environment.• Increase their competitiveness and prestige as a company contributing to reducing the plastic waste problem and contribute to environmental sustainability. (C-)VET organisations can easily adopt the PlasticValue learning programme and platform and embed it into their regular offer, either as a full stand-along training or adapting it and integrating it into their already existing courses. This will allow them to adapt their activities to the market needs and provide their learners with a highly relevant circular skillset. It will enhance their attractiveness, competitiveness and increase the number of (interested) learners. Furthermore, cycles/studies in fields related to production, manufacturing, waste management and innovation offered in VET, and also HE institutions, can use the PlasticValue programme to adapt their existing curricula or create a new one. As the innovative approach and new field of plastic revaluation are not yet addressed in regular curricula, it provides an opportunity for the “early adopters” to stand out with regards to other educational institutions (and make them more attractive), while enhancing their students’ professional profile.