"<< Background >>The service sector accounts for more than 70% of the EU output and jobs, so the future growth path and overall development of the economy and labour markets depend on it. Global consumption patterns are becoming unsustainable, and society faces serious environmental challenges, from rising global resource demands to climate change, water scarcity, threats to biodiversity and air pollution. At the same time, growing sustainability challenges already pressure businesses to consider the environmental impacts of their growth and adopt new sustainable business models. In light of this, service design thinking is becoming increasingly important in this rapidly growing service-based economy. Design Council (UK) states that one unit of money invested in service design brings back twenty units of turnover. The main problem why service design methodology is not used by family and micro-enterprises is the lack of knowledge and the fact that the involvement of an external service designer is generally costly. These types of enterprises do not implement service design as a strategic tool due to the lack of general understanding. The lack of the use of service design strategies is a common characteristic of family and micro-enterprises in many European countries. Products and services are usually designed by managers or owners, or persons without training in service design. EU is moving with its Green Deal intensively closer to an environmentally friendly economy. While new business models are being created, it is important for family and micro-enterprises to have the knowledge on how to adapt in this changing business environment while creating their services in a more environmentally friendly way. At the same time, it is important to focus on growing the sustainability of their businesses. Also, VET providers have little practical experience in teaching service design and the training effect remains short. An innovative approach to directly help family and micro-enterprises in creating greater value through service design methodology. SeDiHUB allows family and micro-enterprises to develop their strategic management perspective: design thinking methodology integrated into strategic and tactical planning of an organization's growth and providing services in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way.<< Objectives >>SeDiHUB aims to upskill micro&family enterprises to employ SD to develop sustainable and digitalized services and is structured into the objectives below: To raise awareness of micro&family enterprises about SD so as to develop customer-oriented services in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way in the digitalized economy To provide knowledge, skills, competencies to micro&family enterprises required to develop customer-oriented services themselvesTo provide VET providers with a methodological approach of using new tools and online learning resources to teach SD when environmental issues and digitalization options have been taken into accountTo create a training material specifically for micro&family enterprises, accompanied by the necessary guidelines and tools for developing services To create an online learning platform to develop SD thinking among micro & family enterprisesTo create a micro&family business hub where stakeholders can learn how to apply SD, matchmake and create joint services-To raise awareness among policymakers, stakeholders involved in the business development ecosystem on SD thinking necessity as a crucial point of creating added value in the service, digital economy and sustainable development<< Implementation >>Activities are planned through a service design method using a double diamond approach to design a qualitative project result according to the target groups' needs. The methodology of the horizontal and the vertical approach is used for the smooth running of the project. Project activities: 1. Project management, evaluation - horizontal activities. 2. Production of results, implementation of the training activity - vertical activities. 3. Dissemination & multiplier events - horizontal activities. The double diamond process parts are: discover, define, develop, and deliver. By using Service design methods in the SeDiHUB , we can ensure that the project's final training approach, training material and online platform meet the needs of the project's main target groups (micro&family businesses, VETproviders). R1 activities are part of the SD process in double diamond called ""discover and define"". Through R1 activities, we deliver the project's goal of creating tailor-made training content for micro & family businesses. Following sub-activities are performed: Mapping theoretical foundation and training needsDevelopment of the desired learning outcomes and curriculum according to EQF Development of the training methodology and assessment of the SeDiHUB Compilation of the training approach Executive summary and translation into all partners languages R2 activities are based on ""define and develop"". The input of activities comes from the outcomes obtained from R1. In order to achieve the project objective, an LTT activity is needed to develop tailor made training courses for micro and family businesses. During the LTT, training for all project participants on service design and tools is provided. First structure of the content of the training is developed. After the LTT meeting, all project partners have a unified overview of how the content is developed in R2 and R3. In addition, guidance material for VET providers is developed to ensure the attainment of the project's objective in providing them a methodological approach. Following sub-activities and LTT event are planned: Training material each based on the principles of distance learning, online learning and service design theoriesTranslation of the training material to all partner languages In designing R3 activities, we proceed with – ""develop and deliver"". The development of R3 helps to achieve the project's goal by creating an online learning platform as a self-directed learning tool for the development of service design skills among micro and family businesses as well as to VET providers. Following sub-activities are planned: Online platforms needs analysis, functionality designDigitizing service design toolsDevelopment of the gamified resources Online platform content management, testing, training material, tools uploading.Piloting online platform and making improvements R4 will be the ""deliver"", focusing on producing a comprehensive guide for the creation of a micro&family business hub for the further exploration of the exploitation of the training approach and results. The guide will be a set of digital toolkits, relevant to the needs of the target groups and recommendations on the further use of the SeDiHUB training model and products. Following sub-activities are planned: Focus groups, contacts with stakeholdersDeveloping guidelines, templates, material relevant for each of the target groups needs Translation in all partner languages<< Results >>The SeDiHUB results will be freely accessible online and presented at multiplier events and other promotion activities, while the associated partners are encouraged to recommend them to their contact networks. The results are made available online free of charge to all actors involved in micro and family enterprises training, consulting and support, and the development of the service economy and sustainability.Expected results of the SeDiHUB: R1. A multidisciplinary training approach and modular curriculum including training methodology and assessment for micro and family enterprises' up-skilling on developing sustainable business and environmental services through SD in the digitalized economy.R2. Training resources specially designed to address the needs and to study styles of micro and family enterprises to develop sustainable business and environmentally friendly services through SD in the digitalized economy. The training material will serve the principles of distance, online and self-directed learning, and SD theories and will be structured into: notes, videos, case studies, simulation scenarios, good practices and a depository.R3. An online learning platform specifically designed for micro and family entrepreneurs, that provides an excellent overview of the SD process and tools, enriched with an online SD toolbox and gamified resources.R4. A comprehensive guide, in the form of a set of digital toolkits, for the creation of a micro&family business hub and further exploitation of SeDiHUB results by VET/other training providers, organizations providing support to micro& family enterprises, business consultants, micro &family businesses. EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOMESParticipating organizations -Development of new synergies and increased capacity in working at the EU level with organizations from different fields -Innovative educational approaches built on active, transformative, and digital learning to address business sustainability and production of environmentally friendly services through SD in the digital economy Micro and family entrepreneurs-Improved knowledge on developing services on their own, following SD principles and steps.-Improved knowledge about sustainable business models and increased awareness on SD benefits towards the development of sustainable business and environmentally friendly services in the digitalized economy-Increased sensitization about environmental friendly services and sustainable development -Increased awareness on service design as a way towards customer-centred service developmentVET providers and VET trainers-Knowledge and skills related to SD and its value in addressing sustainability and environmentally friendly services in the digitalized economy -Competences to guide VET students on how to conceptualize and take over the control of the SD process to provide sustainable business solutions and environmentally friendly services-Ability to promote active, transformative learning, and novel training activities - Creation of SD and sustainable development cultureBusiness Consultants-Knowledge and skills related to SD and its value in addressing business sustainability and develop environmental friendly services in the digitalized economy -Creation of SD and sustainable development culturePolicymakers & other relevant stakeholders -Awareness-raising about the need to create more supportive activities for family and micro-enterprises to increase their added value and sustainable development."

"<< Background >>""ATHENA"" is based on the current EU youth strategy 2021-2027 and its fundamental pillars for the involvement, connection and training of young people for their correct inclusion in social and economic life. The most recent data at European level on the social inclusion of young people in Europe (Eurostat 2018), showed a slight improvement of approximately 5% compared to the data for 2014. However, the recent socio-economic situation caused by the Covid-19 crisis threatens these advances and poses an uncertain scenario for the future of young Europeans. Taking into account also the working document ""Situation of young people in the European Union"" (European Commission, 2018), the cyclical changes or booms and busts in the economic cycle lead to rises and falls in youth unemployment rates, influencing job prospects and opportunities for young entrepreneurs. In this sense, for the first time since the Second World War, there is a real risk that today's young generation will end up less well-off than their parents. The evidence from the previous recession suggests that young people, especially those who have just left education, could be hit harder economically too by the COVID-19 fallout. On the same line, the impacts of crises are never gender-neutral, and COVID-19 is no exception. According to the recent data from unwomen.org ""women are overrepresented in many of the industries hardest hit by COVID-19, such as food service, retail and entertainment"". In order to face this new challenge, a well-oriented entreprenurship is still representing an alternative way for socio-labour inclusion of young women.Pandemic reality is also influencing working methods and youth workers need to adapt their traditional initiatives to the new circunstances in order to continue offering support for young women entrepreneurs, and youth entrepreneurship in general. In relation to this, ""ATHENA"" will focus on young women entrepreneurship support and put in value digital and alternative tools, adapted to new COVID19 restrictions. In this sense, eight European organizations from Spain, Italy, Finland, Belgium, Lithuania, Ireland, Slovenia and Poland are committed to cooperate during 24 months in order to improve their youth work methodologies, explore new European good practices and develop new intelectual and working methodologies to be adapted by them in their own territory and other territories regarding young women entrepreneurship promotion.<< Objectives >>""ATHENA"" aims to improve integrated youth work strategies, adapting working methods to COVID19 restrictions, in order to offer a good youth entrepreneurship support and promotion. To reach this objective, eight European entities are committed to cooperate and face the new reality in order to facilitate solutions to other peers in Europe. ATHENA will work on entrepreneurship field, because, even if entrepreneurs are fighters, by nature optimistic and resilient, their potential can increase significantly when they find a correct support.Youth workers should be ready to guide young future entrepreneurs to new world after COVID19. A world less open and, probably, less free. A world with limited travel of goods and people, notably business travelers (more remote working and remote meetings) due to the impact of physical distancing requirements. The potential growth in “dematerialization” of products and services: for example, we could witness a boom in 3D printers to produce masks and ventilators in each country. More agility in corporate decision-making: for example we’ve seen companies like Apple changing their operations virtually overnight to design, produce and ship face shields for medical workers.Pandemic reality is influencing working methods and youth workers need to adapt their traditional initiatives to the new circunstances in order to continue offering support for young women entrepreneurs, and youth entrepreneurship in general. In relation to this, ""ATHENA"" will focus on young women entrepreneurship support and put in value digital and alternative tools, adapted to new COVID19 restrictions. In this sense, eight European organizations from Spain, Italy, Finland, Belgium, Lithuania, Ireland, Slovenia and Poland are committed to cooperate during 24 months in order to improve their youth work methodologies, explore new European good practices and develop new intelectual and working methodologies to be adapted by them in their own territory and other territories regarding young women entrepreneurship promotion.""ATHENA"" will reach the following specific objectives:- To Improve youth work methodologies regarding promoting young women entrepreneurship, specifically by introducing COVID19-adapted strategies;- To increase awareness and knowledge among youth workers and decision makers, about new COVID19-adapted strategies for promoting young women entrepreneurship;- To compare situations in different European countries and exchange knowledge and experiences between partner countries;- To collect best COVID19-adapted practices in the field of young women entrepreneurship support;- To produce sustainable and adaptable knowledge to be implemented and tested in other European realities;- To put in value new COVID19-adapted strategies to be adapted to youth work policies and initiatives across Europe.<< Implementation >>ATHENA is based on a transnational collaboration between different organizations related to entrepreneurship from eight different European territories that will cooperate at Europeanlevel. The transnational attitude of the project would enable participants to get to know a wide variety of opinions and experiences coming from different national situations. This willguarantee the exploration of innovative COVID19-adapted practices in order to provide European youth workers with tools to face potential situations related to support youthentrepreneurship in pandemic times. ATHENA thus will imply a pilot project including all the partners, where digital and alternatives strategies will be tested in local contexts by anintegrated approach, involving stakeholders from all territories. Therefore, the project will have a local dimension as well. To be precise, the pilot projects will be leaded by the expertsand youth workers provided by project partners and will be implemented in the different partner cities of the project. The pilot project will concern European youngster’s attitudestowards specific challenges as Covid-19 economic crisis, unemployment and other social relevant issues. The main idea is to find common solutions for this European challenge ofyouth social inclusion through new strategies based on IT and other alternative tools, so that it would be possible to shape better youth work methods and practices adaptable for thedifferent European cities. To do so, the results of the project will be elaborated and summarised in an online report, an interactive MOOC with pop-up material and a practicalguidelines for youth workers.<< Results >>""ATHENA"" aims to to adapt and improve work methodologies and tools applied to assist and encourage women entrepreneurship, regarding new pandemic situation and digital transition needs. The project roadmap will be developed through close collaboration and increased flows of knowledge between project partners and the different stakeholders in each target territory. The main project outcome of the ""ATHENA"" project will be the development of an experiental development training programme for youth workers aiming to increasse their skills about new COVID19 situation and how to adapt their work to the new-reality, including digital, online and alternative methods and tools. More specifically, ""ATHENA"" will: 1. Offer a unique training package to City Councils, Universities, Private entities and Non-profit organizations related to youth entrepreneurship promotion, by making more explicit the link between organizations, communities and business and the integrated approach a success factor; 2. Offer guidelines for improving youth work methodologies regarding youth entrepreneurship support, specifically adapting working methods and tools to new COVID19 situation; 3. Provide quality information and collection about European best practices about potential COVID19-adapted methods, tools and initiatives in the field of youth entrepreneurship promotion including a comparition among different European realities; 4. Provide sustainable and adaptable knowledge to be implemented and tested in other European realities. 5. Provide useful insights for the introduction of new COVID19-adapted strategies. 6. Facilitate access for youth workers and decision makers to important open training resources related to youth entrepreneurship promotion; 7. ""ATHENA"" will become a best practice example and a training model for other EU initiatives aiming to enhance new COVID19-adapted strategies for young women entrepreneurship amongst youth workers and their communities. 8. Develop a relevant material for e-learning platforms used by project partners as well as MOOC for further explotation of""ATHENA"" training programme. 9. Develop promotional information to put in value project results and put in value COVID19-adapted strategies for promoting young women entrepreneurship; 10. Development of a sustainable cooperation network about promoting young women entrepreneurship by new online, digital and altenative strategies;"