We propose providing entrepreneurial training in fashion, arts and crafts to adults that are socially isolated, are migrants and marginalised due to other factors for the purpose of enabling these individuals to actively engage with the labour market and integrate in their community. We will deliver a range of learning activities to at least 30 individuals by providing interaction with Fashion entrepreneurs and designers and the Fashion industry to equip the participants with technical production skills for creating fashion items, marketing and enterprise development that has a circular economy focus. Within the programme is a focus on supporting the participants to develop their language skills and to promote inclusivity. The participants will participate in learning workshops and engage with Fashion businesses, entrepreneurs and business development specialists at Fashion events in the different partner countries including Sweden, UK and Portugal to enable them to discover market opportunities and develop their personal skills. They will develop transversal skills namely entrepreneurship, social, intercultural awareness and language competences, critical thinking which will enhance their personal and professional development to support them to become more resilient and better equipped to engage actively with opportunities within this industry. The skills training and engagement with industry will improve their capacity to become more innovative and competent to develop new products and enable them to market themselves to an international Fashion market thereby developing their entrepreneurial skills and improve their career prospects and labour mobility.
Project objectives - Equip individuals from a migrant background with no or limited education with practical sewing and craft skills to gain skills to increase their chances of engaging in the job market - Improve the self-esteem and confidence of people with limited language skills - Share good practice and learning methods from partners to boost and encourage new ideas, and find ways of working together transnationally to highlight the opportunities that exist in Europe - Address the skills gaps identified by the Fashion sector both in the UK and Europe and foster the growth of the sector on a European scale - Harness the expertise of project partners from the different countries to provide a solution fit to address the issues and needs - Transfer, share and exchange best practice with organisations working in this field on a European level to promote the development of skills and support the participants in the field of fashion thereby increasing the number of people who are employed and fully equipped to realise a commercial future in the sector - Meet the need of the British garment and textile manufacturers for individuals skilled in apparel production as a result of an increase in productivity and business growth
I identified a need to develop fashion and craft enterprises amongst migrants and individuals that are marginalised as well as provide skills to enable Fashion start-ups to increase their productivity and realise business growth. Furthermore, the 2020 Action Plan of the European Commission, had aims to provide participants with a practical entrepreneurial experience, highlighting the importance of learning by doing to gain skills relevant for working in the Fashion and Textiles sector. The initiative to develop creative enterprises and embed entrepreneurship education in the fashion sector proved to be promising because of the skills gap and the potential for growth as a means for individuals to engage with the labour market and gain employment. The project was able to achieve these goals as we equipped people from a migrant background and Fashion startups with the skills relevant to the Fashion and Textiles sector to start an enterprise and improve their productivity.