CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT Small businesses are one of the main components of economic growth, social development and quality of life for EU citizens. However, the first steps of growth, especially the transition from being a sole trader to hiring a first employee(s), are not always easy. Lack of knowledge about the regulatory environment is a factor, but studies show that barriers are often perceived, and so hiring a first employee essentially requires sole traders to “cross a psychological threshold for which they are ill prepared.” This lack of preparation has become more evident as reasons for moving into self-employment in the current post Covid 19 economic climate have as much to do with the “push” away from other forms of employment, as with the desire to start and grow a new business. While this push factor has existed for some time, it has accelerated within the last year and has occurred against a background where the majority of public sector investment in business training has previously been directed to high potential growth start ups. There is less time than ever to invest in improving the quality of mainstream training for “standard” businesses, including sole traders who are in the eye of the economic hurricane that is Covid 19. However there is also much more scope for online training than ever with the widespread move into the virtual world. OBJECTIVES The objective of the project was to develop a new training model and resources to enable self-employed owner-operators to hire their first employee with knowledge, ability and confidence. The intention is to teach the practical, legal and financial aspects of employment and sustainable business growth, but also to apply new insights into overcoming the psychological barriers and risks involved. We have pursued this objective by;•Adopting new technologies effectively and blending the needs of our targets groups with the best pedagogic features of the widely available technology.•Creating innovative learning spaces where learners feel empowered and in charge of their own education process, directing their time to the areas where learning can benefit them most.•Curating knowledge of good practice in critical areas such as growth analysis, legal regulation, job interview processes and also more transversal skills and competences, such as coping with risk, interpersonal communication and managerial skills and above all a leadership mindset. The skills imparted are relevant across all types of employment and in other aspects of civic and personal development, contributing directly to the long term employability and personal development of self employed entrepreneurs.Our specific activities were the: a) Creation and publication of a self assessment tool enabling an objective assessment of readiness to employ and creating a personalized learning pathway. (IO1) b) Development and publication of a new training model with support for business trainers and advisors on how to impart the knowledge, skills and self-belief required to hire a first employee.(IO2) c) Creation and marketing of an open, free online course so that busy self employed individuals can access this new training directly. (IO3) NUMBER AND TYPE OF PARTICIPANTAmbition to employ targeted: VET providers Self employed entrepreneurs Stakeholders in VET and wider business development SUMMARY OF RESULTS AND IMPACT During the project there were 115,541 visitors to the Ambition to Employ website containing the direct access online course and downloadable resources2100 people downloaded the resourcesMore than 140 self employed entrepreneurs, 20 VET organisations and 75 VET teachers were involved in pilot testing175 self employed entrepreneurs and stakeholders were involved in multiplier events.21,061 entrepreneurs and stakeholders were reached via social media and general dissemination This roll out of the training model and resources is a reflection of the projects relevance to changing patterns of employment and entrepreneurship previous to and during the project. Solid plans are in place to exploit the resources by embedding them in higher education, with a committment from leading and national VET educators in the SME sector and with networks of enterprise educators introducing workshops on the value of Ambition to Employ as a key competence for entrepreneurs and economic growth post Covid.