In December 2016 the youth unemployment rate in the implementing partner countries in this project stood at FR 26.2%; IE 14.5%; MT 13%; PT 26.4%; RO 20.3%; UK 12.6%; CZ 10.7%. Although these rates show a decline from the highs of 2011 they are still way above the overall unemployment rates in all countries and are evidence of the continuing impact that the economic crisis is having on young adults in Europe. Entrepreneurship drives innovation, competitiveness, job creation and growth. It allows new innovative ideas turn into successful ventures and can unlock the personal potential of individuals. Research shows that Europe does not exploit its entrepreneurial potential with Americans involved in three times more new entrepreneurial ventures than their European counterparts (Eurostat). The critical role played by start-ups and young businesses in driving economic development and job creation is increasingly understood. Across the OECD area SMEs account for approximately 99% of all enterprises and two-thirds of employment. SMEs account for 57% of GDP in Europe. They are the ‘engine room’ of the EU economy. 95% of all SMEs are in fact micro-enterprises, traditionally the seeding ground for new entrepreneurs and this is especially so in the creative sector where most new businesses employ on average 2 or 3 people. The “European Competitiveness Report 2010”, referred to the “transforming role” of the creative industries for the future of the EU economy. The perception of creative businesses held by many financiers is that they are run by individuals with passion; that many are lifestyle businesses with low growth or scalable potential; that they rely on “flakey” business models; produce products and services that have no protect-able intellectual property; are very difficult to value; and are characterised by poor marketing and poor management skills. To counteract this the proposed new curriculum will include modules that address how to; a) present the creative entrepreneur and his/her management team; b) outline the investment opportunity that the new business presents; c) demonstrate that the proposed business model is relevant and fit-for-purpose; d) present the scalability of your creative product or idea and a true market valuation; e) protect intellectual property In Europe, creative industries build upon a rich and diverse core of cultural heritage and skillful arts. There is the opportunity to turn Europe’s cultural diversity into a real competitive advantage for the rejuvenation of Europe’s economy, without losing its special identity. In the modern world of business, the raw materials are not coal and steel but information; the most valuable products are ideas and meanings; produced not by machines but by the imagination of individuals. There is an urgent need to accept and understand creative and artistic producers as generators of economic value, and to foster and support their development. If VET is to adequately respond to the needs of the market place there is an urgent need for specialist curriculum resources that address industry specific topics. The Kre8r entrepreneurship curriculum represents a significant innovation in VET that responds to market needs and will harness the potential of the sector as a catalyst for growth.
Investing in entrepreneurship education is one of the highest return investments Europe can make as entrepreneurship and self-employment are keys for achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The critical role played by start-ups in driving economic development and job creation is increasingly understood. Factory floors are progressively being replaced by creative communities whose raw material is their ability to imagine, create and innovate. In this new digital economy, immaterial value increasingly determines material value, as consumers look for new and enriching 'experiences'. The creative industry sector is one of Europe's most dynamic sectors comprising highly innovative companies and contributing approximately 2.6% to EU GDP. It is a sector with high growth potential and provides quality jobs to over 5 million people. KRE8R aimed to plug the gap between training providers and (nascent) creative entrepreneurs. It has developed a curriculum that meets the needs of (nascent) entrepreneurs in the Creative and Cultural industries. With over 100 hours of training and resources, it goes further than generic courses by addressing specific topics that relate to CCI and speaks to them in language the creative brain can comprehend. Additionally, KRE8R increased the labour market relevance of Vocational Education and Training (VET) by providing tailored pedagogic resources to improve the attainment levels of high-level basic and transversal competences. The KRE8R consortium comprises 7 partners drawn from 7 Member States (CZ, FR, IE, MT, PT, RO, UK) and brings together a range of education providers, businesses and local development organisations to develop 5 main Intellectual Outputs: 1. Creative Business Development Curriculum for Nascent Creative Entrepreneurs – programme KRE8R: a bespoke curriculum specifically targeting emerging entrepreneurs and artists in the cultural and creative sector. This curriculum was delivered in a blended learning environment. It includes 8 separate training modules, further readings, a wheel of skills & attitudes to acquire to become an entrepreneur ; 2. In-service Training for VET Professionals: a bespoke induction training programme to support VET tutors to deliver the new curriculum and to ensure that the required learning outcomes are achieved. Induction training also addressed issues relating to the delivery of training in blended learning environments; 3. E-learning Portal: an e-learning portal as a one-stop-shop providing instant access to the full suite of learning resources developed. 4. Policy Paper: recommendation for a course of action based on the experiences and lessons learned in the course of the project. 5. Creative Business Case Studies: a series of case studies profiling creative entrepreneurs and their businesses in each partner country in order to help inspire nascent creative entrepreneurs. The KRE8R project involved local working groups established in each partner country, to bring the world of education and business closer together leading to the development of the unique business immersion programme. This caused a considerable positive impact for both the VET and micro-enterprise representatives involved. 86 artists / (nascent) creative entrepreneurs took an active part in the piloting phase. KRE8R had a very strong impact on the two target groups of the project. In fact, after having participated in the online and face-to-face training modules, around 74% of artists / (nascent) creative entrepreneurs declare having progressed in knowledge, know-how and general skills. Among VET professionals, it was more than 74%. Therefore, most partners decided to sustain the project either by integrating the material in their training offer and/or sharing it with key VET providers in their area. It is worth mentioning that, within the all project duration, more than 43000 people were addressed or received the information about the KRE8R project.