Youth Talent to Market

Youth Talent to Market is a Erasmus+ KA2 project in the field of youth, composed of three organisations that work with the creative sector; in the UK (Gecko Programmes), in Italy (CEDIT) and Cyprus (LC Youth). The project developed, tested and and adopted innovative practices, by providing enterprise workshops and work placements in a blended mobility for youths, that supported them to develop and sustain a creative business in this sector. The project identified a non-formal entrepreneurial training pathway for artisans, who have learnt their craft, and wishing to develop their business skills so that they can take their talent to market; either a national or international market. The non-formal entrepreneurial training pathway took the shape of a 10-day enterprise workshop, that was designed after a close consultation with representatives from the creative sector in the three countries. This was then piloted in two cycles, with 60 creative makers from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Cyprus benefiting from the training designed by the partnership. The 10-day enterprise workshop was followed by a 45-day work placement with a creative business, for 30 chosen participants, providing them with the opportunity to observe and learn the mechanisms of managing and marketing such a business, with the aim to equip them to transfer this knowledge to their own business. The project worked closely with artisans and artists groups throughout the life of the project, and engaged them to contribute to the design of the workshops and the style in which it is presented. Sixty young artisans were developed in this pilot, along with nine youth workers being developed as enterprise mentors specifically for this sector. The project also featured three big dissemination events (multipliers), which were held in each of the partner nations, with the aim to continue to engage with artisans, artisan groups and other young people, and report to stakeholders and shapers, and exploit the results of the project.