CONTEXTThe Skills SETS partnership was developed in order to strengthen and sustain a knowledge exchange network of organisations, practitioner, experts and policy makers working in training and business support for the development entrepreneurial skills for the voluntary and community sector within the UK, Estonia, Italy, and Spain.AIMThe overall aim of the project partnership was to develop and disseminate knowledge and ‘market intelligence’ in order to provide resources for third sector organisations within the EU that are adopting – through choice, necessity, or both – more enterprising working practices and an entrepreneurial organisational culture. OBJECTIVESThe key objectives of the Skills SETS project were to:1) Assess the availability of formal VET learning opportunities relating to enterprise and entrepreneurialism for individuals and organisations within the third sector2) Review the suitability and the relevance to the third sector of the formal learning that is available3) Identify case studies for informal learning activities – such as mentoring programmes – designed to inculcate entrepreneurialism and assess whether such programmes can or should be replicated at regional, national and European levels4) Consider the potential impact of cultural and legislative issues and on entrepreneurialism within the third sector5) Develop recommendations to inform the development of enhanced learning opportunities related to entrepreneurial skills for the third sectorMETHODOLOGYThe project objectives were achieved through a programme of local case studies and national level research designed to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practice, not just between the project partners but also across different sectors and throughout their local and regional networks in each of the participating Member States. The results of this work supporting the project partnership by informing the development of policy recommendations focused upon enhancing the availability and quality of learning opportunities related to entrepreneurial skills for the third sector at local, national and European levels.PARTICIPANTSThe target groups for the Skills SETS project incorporated: VET learners and professionals; local, regional and national third sector organisations; awarding bodies that accredit relevant VET qualifications; and national and European level policy actors related to the third sector in general and social enterprise and entrepreneurship in particular. The Skills SETS project achieved its target of engaging a minimum of 250 VET professionals and organisations from these target groups via project activities.ACTIVITIESThe primary project activities were as follows:- Delivery of a series of 6 Transnational Project Meetings that facilitated cooperation and partnership working amongst the project partners and supported the management and delivery of key project activities and outcomes - Implementation of a programme of desk based and primary research that supported the development of Intellectual Outputs, including reviews of relevant VET provision, case studies and policy recommendations- Delivery of a series of 4 Multiplier Events that were designed to promote the Intellectual Outputs created by the project in order to maximise the impact of project activities in general and the Intellectual Outputs in particularIMPACTThe Skill SETS project provided significant beneficial impacts for the individuals directly involved in project activities, as well as for local and regional stakeholder organisations and people from target groups such as VET learners and professionals that are engaged and supported via dissemination and sustainability actions. For those participating directly, the project enabled them to learn from others’ experiences and to develop and enhance their professional competences through the sharing of skills and good practices. The work undertaken as part of the project activities provided participants and stakeholder organisations with access to a wide range of new perspectives on their day-to-day work within the third sector. In particular, partnership activities will provide opportunities to learn from best practice in other EU countries and other sub-sectors of the third sector. Finally, participating in the project also facilitated ongoing European level partnership work in cooperation with the partner organisations – in particular, the Italian, Spanish and UK partners continue to cooperate on a variety of current projects and programmes relevant to the Skills SETS project.