The project aimed to foster the green transition by directly enhancing the green capabilities of both Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and SMEs in Serbia and North Macedonia. The project aimed to achieve this through a transnational partnership focused on exchanging knowledge, developing practical educational resources, and testing innovative training methods for greening businesses. Specifically, the project aimed to: • Equip BSO educators with new competencies and modern tools to effectively guide SMEs towards sustainability. • Develop and pilot a tailored training methodology, curriculum, and modules specifically designed for greening business operations. • Encourage the green transition by promoting the adoption of EU best practices among SMEs and socio-economic partners. Key planned achievements are: • Empowering adult entrepreneurs to align their business practices with sustainability principles • Developed tailored training programs and tools that addressed real-world needs identified through surveys and stakeholder consultations • Establishing an e-learning platform to ensure accessibility and scalability of training resources • Engage stakeholders throughout the process.
We applied for this project to address the urgent need for a green transition within Micro, small, and medium enterprises, and entrepreneurs and crafts (SMEs). They are central to our economies but are also responsible for a significant portion of resource consumption and pollution. While adopting sustainable practices is a clear win-win strategy for both economic and environmental resilience, many SMEs, particularly in our regions, face substantial barriers. Barriers include a pronounced lack of green skills, insufficient capital, and limited information on green incentives. The core need we identified is the upskilling of both SME personnel and the Business Support Organisations (BSOs) that guide them. The project emphasised their need for EU green practices and competencies. This project was designed to directly answer these needs by improving green skills, competencies, and learning opportunities for our target groups. It will equip BSOs to better support SMEs and empower entrepreneurs, managers, and employees with the practical knowledge and tools needed to green their businesses, thereby unlocking the human capital essential for a successful green transition.