The STAY AFLOAT project aims to equip the project's target group with key competencies outlined in the 2018 Proposal for a Council Recommendation on Lifelong Learning. It emphasizes entrepreneurship, creativity, critical thinking, and effective process management, which are crucial in today's dynamic landscape. Through the STAY AFLOAT project, we equip entrepreneurs and their teams with a diverse set of skills, including emotional intelligence, which directly impacts professional performance and organizational success. By fostering employability and personal development, the project enhances civic participation and supports the development of businesses and intermediary bodies. Our training methodology, based on Open Educational Resources (OER) and online learning, ensures accessibility and flexibility for all participants. By making materials available in multiple languages and under a creative commons license, we aim to maximize outreach and encourage the continuous development of entrepreneurship competences among low-qualified adults. Ultimately, the STAY AFLOAT project seeks to foster a culture of lifelong learning and innovation, empowering individuals to adapt to the demands of a dynamic global economy.
SMEs have undisputed significance in driving Europe’s economic growth, accounting for 85% of new jobs and 66% of private-sector employment. As such, the quality and relevance of entrepreneurship education provided for new and existing entrepreneurs played a key role in achieving the 2020 goals of smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Statistics showed that more than half of European businesses will not survive past the 5-year mark. As such, business failure is recognized as an important topic. But to date, the emphasis has been placed on accepting failure and helping entrepreneurs learn from the experience and start over again. But this overlooks the huge economic, societal, and personal consequences of business failure. STAY AFLOAT project was developed to help entrepreneurs and SMEs identify and interpret early warning signs of a business crisis, with the aim of increasing the number of business advisors (coaches) who are incorporating early-stage warning signals of business crises and intervention strategies into their training programs. By improving the skills and attitude of business advisors, the effectiveness of entrepreneurship training is increased, and waves of change have been made through entrepreneurship teaching