Cultural and creative micro-enterprises in particular in tourist areas were gravely affected by COVID-19 due to travel restrictions and the lockdown. Relying on the traditional business model that favours face to face communication with the customer, these small businesses were particularly hit and were unprepared to address the changes that COVID ensued. The pandemic however came to bleakly highlight the already existing lack of digital competences that puts these small businesses in a disadvantaged position, decreases their competitiveness and will lead them to exclusion from the opportunities of the digital era. To support these micro-entrepreneurs, the GRACE project will develop an online educational platform with the aim to equip micro-businesses with key digital competences touching upon all business aspects, strengthen digital entrepreneurship and foster a digital hub for creativity and innovation that will put them back in the growth track and mitigate the pandemic adverse impact. Specific objectives: • Develop the GRACE online educational platform for micro-enterprises to receive training tailored to the needs of the creative and cultural sector • Equip cultural and creative micro-entrepreneurs with digital competences to successfully position their business in the digital era and advance their competitiveness and growth • Establish Digital creativity and innovation clusters and Networks to strengthen transfer of knowledge, creative and innovation thinking • Increase the knowledge and availability of resources for adult educators working in the field so as to be fully equipped in supporting microbusinesses • Strengthen the transnational policy dialogue on training support of the creative and cultural microbusinesses for their sustainability and growth The GRACE project brings together seven organisations from six European countries. The GRACE project will last for 24 months. During its duration, it envisages to deliver the following results: - The GRACE educational platform available in all partner languages will be an nonformal educational space for open and collaborative learning and communication and a reservoir of best practices and other resources for microbusinesses - Online Course on digital competences and digital entrepreneurship for creative and cultural microbusinesses tailored to their needs and geared towards innovation and enriched with practical exercises, real business scenarios and examples and case studies. - A toolkit for adult educators with information, practical guidance and relevant and timely resources to train microbusinesses in acquiring digital entrepreneurship and also support aspiring cultural and creative in the acquisition of digital competences that would help them in starting up their business. - Pilot evaluation report: an analysis and evaluation of the pilot implementation of the proposed educational intervention, presenting assessment and feedback from partner organisations staff, trainers and trainees. - Guide on upscaling and transferability which will be a key sustainability output that will draw on the project experience and present a blueprint on its upscaling in other countries and settings. - Lessons learnt and policy recommendations report; the GRACE project’s legacy and contribution to the policy agenda, delving into questions of training needs and barriers that need to be overcome, educational pathways that can be created to advance the skills of cultural and creative microbusiness. All tangible results will be available in electronic form in the digital media of the project and disseminated in partners’ own digital media, and they will be developed in English translated in partner languages. Intangible - Webinars addressed to 100 trainers and adult educators - Provision of training to 100 microbusiness entrepreneurs and their staff in five European countries - Five Multiplier events covering different stages of project implementation to steer the attention of target groups and relevant stakeholders on what the project has to offer and what are its benefits for the creative and cultural micro-businesses. - Final Event in Brussels will showcase the project results and lessons learnt and will invite a wide audience of Education and VET actors, civil society, academia, public officials at all levels.
The GRACE project aim was to develop an online educational platform for equipping micro-businesses entrepreneurs with key digital competencies touching upon all business aspects, strengthening digital entrepreneurship and fostering a digital hub for creativity and innovation that will put them back on the growth track and mitigate the pandemic adverse impact. Specific objectives: • Develop the GRACE online educational platform for micro-enterprises to receive training tailored to the needs of the creative and cultural sector • Equip cultural and creative micro-entrepreneurs with digital competencies to successfully position their business in the digital era and advance their competitiveness and growth • Establish digital creativity and innovation clusters and networks to strengthen the transfer of knowledge, creative and innovative thinking • Increase the knowledge and availability of resources for adult educators working in the field to be fully equipped in supporting micro businesses • Strengthen the transnational policy dialogue on training support of the creative and cultural micro businesses for their sustainability and growth
Cultural and creative micro-enterprises were affected by COVID-19 due to travel restrictions and the lockdown. Relying on the traditional business model favouring face-to-face communication with the customer, these small businesses were particularly hit and unprepared to address the changes that COVID ensued. The pandemic highlighted the lack of digital competencies that put these small businesses in a disadvantaged and precarious position, decreased their competitiveness and led them to exclusion from opportunities and increased risks of social exclusion of owners and workers. Coupled with the lack of digital competencies, these businesses are facing the following challenges: limited or no funds for continuous skills acquisition or upskilling, time constraints to be able to attend training (small teams with no available time between work and family responsibilities balance), the continuous need to enrich their creativity. These needs have been reconfirmed and addressed within GRACE with entrepreneurs from partner countries, as well as the lack of skills in digital customer experience, attracting new visitors and people interested in culture and art, diversifying their offer, and creating a synergy with the local community.