Access Enterprise Erasmus Project

Project Title

Access Enterprise

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Access for disadvantaged; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

According to the 2017 edition of the OECD report “Missing Entrepreneurs”, people in disadvantaged groups in EU are still less likely to be involved in business creation and self-employment activities than the mainstream population. The report emphasises “the need to continue to encourage and support entrepreneurship, especially for groups that are under-represented and disadvantaged in the labour market, i.e. women, youth, seniors, the unemployed and immigrants.” And recommends “Supporting these groups with entrepreneurship training, coaching and mentoring”

The Access Enterprise project has developed training and learning resources which support the professional development of new and existing Business Advisers/Educators working with people from marginalised groups including young people, people with mental health issues, people with disabilities, migrants, people from a BME background, people over 50; people from social deprived communities; and women. Access Enterprise has done this by developing training packages which promote partnership working between Business Advisers/Educators . Access Enterprise training packages were created and developed using a co-production model, where Business Advisers and Adult Educators and people from marginalised groups views were treated equally in the design, development, piloting and evaluations of the intellectual outputs. This was done using a variety of methods including focus groups, ongoing consultation trough focus groups and peer group sessions, evaluation of their entrepreneurial journey, and also development of impact assessment tools and contribution into the ongoing sustainability of the methodology within each partner country. By creating training programmes which are truly co-produced Access Enterprise developed resources which can be used by a range of Business Advisers/coaches and are relevant and meaningful to their work and the diverse individuals they support.
Access Enterprise has contributed to the achievement of several EU priorities, including:
• The objectives of the European 2020 Strategy including the headline education target
• The objectives of the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020)
• The promotion of European values in accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty of the European Union.
• Address the concerns of young people in employment strategies and Encourage Entrepreneurship;

One of the main achievements of the Access enterprsies project has been to develop and produce learning resources and a training methodology which, through a co-production process ensures that disadvantaged learners (people identified as having a protected characteristic mental health issue, disability, migrant background, gender, age, sexuality, race or culture) needs are at it’s heart. A key reason for the success of this project has been the project partners belief and determination that people from the marginalized groups listed above should have opportunity to explore self employment as a viable option in the labour market, and there should be effective person centred support delivered by trained by Business coaches which enable them to do so.. The project through development of the IOs has given adult learners from these marginalised groups the opportunity to learn from each other and also co-create the emerging resources by sharing their experiences and what skills, values and experiences are necessary for Business Advisers to support them effectively. Through their participation in the programme many of the adult learners have achieved great results including setting up businesses, developing new skills and accessing mainstream labour market opportunities. They have also contributed to the legacy o and sustainability of the programme in each of the different partner countries. Through the development of this training adult educators (Business Advisers) have increased their own skills and competences, in each of the partner countries and across Europe, and are better equipped to support people from marginalised groups to learn. explore entrepreneurship and ultimately set up businesses, thus supporting social inclusion in the labour market and improving and extending the supply of high quality learning opportunities tailored to the needs of the individual.

Project Website

https://www.accessenterpriseproject.com/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 292734,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

MERSEYSIDE EXPANDING HORIZONS LIMITED & Country: UK

Project Partners

• APROXIMAR- COOPERATIVA DE SOLIDARIEDADE SOCIAL, CRL
• SOCIALINIU INOVACIJU FONDAS
• Athens Lifelong Learning Institute – Civil Non Profit Organisation
• FORMACION PARA EL DESARROLLO E INSERCION, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA
• CENTRUL PENTRU PROMOVAREA INVATARII PERMANENTE TIMISOARA ASOCIATIA