Social Enterprises' sustainability/scalability is an ongoing challenge with several conflicts regarding the ideal formula toward this objective. Since this business model is expected to become an integral part of the European economy in the subsequent years, the EMPOWER project aims at fostering sustainability and scalability of new and existing SEs and supporting young entrepreneurs through the development of new learning partnerships. The project's objectives are: 1.Build the capacity of front-line youth workers through a tailored Training Package to harness alternative tools, non-formal education, innovative teaching methods, simulation games, and resources for young people and young entrepreneurs. 2.Support SEs owners, SMEs owners and young entrepreneurs through bespoke, training material to develop the required skills & competences to formally incorporate sustainability tools and methods to strengthen and scale up their enterprises 3.Improve the digital entrepreneurship competences of young people by developing a MOOC with free online mini-learning gamified resources, OERS. 5.Enhance synergies among key stakeholders and the labour market by developing Policy Paper with practice recommendations and Open Area for collaboration.
The social economy (SE) is a growing reality in the economy of the EU. It comprises 2.8 mln enterprises and organisations engaged in economic activity, representing 8% of GDP in the EU and 13.6 million workers (6% of employees in Europe). The SE is a primary driver of innovative and enduring economic growth in Europe that is socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable. Furthermore, the latest OECD report provides strong evidence that young people in Europe struggle to create sustainable enterprises and find work. The EMPOWER project aims at fostering sustainability and scalability of new and existing social enterprises and supporting young entrepreneurs through the development of new learning partnerships between the world of work and the world of youth provision. The project offers to young entrepreneurs the tools and training needed to develop strategies for their social enterprises using modern and empirically validated methods to ensure that the services/products meet the needs of local and regional markets. Young people will be able to build knowledge and a critical understanding of SE, to expand the scope of their work, to plan, design and implement actions to enhance the quality of youth work and its recognition.