foStering women's finanCing in sociAL EntrepreneUrshiP

The project aimed to foster entrepreneurial skills among present and future women entrepreneurs in the social sector through VET training and capacity-building for trainers and coaches. It direct...

The project aimed to foster entrepreneurial skills among present and future women entrepreneurs in the social sector through VET training and capacity-building for trainers and coaches. It directly addressed gender inequalities in entrepreneurship by training women and equipping their mentors with the tools to support them effectively. The project had two specific objectives: To support women's access to finance to enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of their social enterprises, creating a favorable and inclusive environment. To raise awareness of key challenges women faced in launching and managing social enterprises. This was achieved through training materials for both entrepreneurs and their trainers, along with supporting tools to foster a more inclusive ecosystem. The project developed an innovative MOOC to help women overcome entrepreneurial challenges and enhanced the skills of VET trainers. Additionally, it introduced a set of integrated tools, including a self-evaluation tool, interactive library, best practices, and an investor mapping atlas, facilitating knowledge acquisition, networking, and peer learning at national and European levels.

In addition to the Project Management Work Package, the SCALE-UP project implemented two key work packages (WPs): WP1: Sharing, Promotion, and Coordination This work package focused on maximizing the dissemination of project results to enhance their impact and ensure their sustainability. It also facilitated coordination among partners, ensuring smooth collaboration and effective implementation of activities. WP2: Online Course and Annex Tools This work package developed a cohesive set of training resources, including an online course and supporting tools designed to inform, train, and inspire women social entrepreneurs and VET trainers/business coaches. These tools helped participants acquire essential skills and provided a structured framework to support entrepreneurial growth in the social sector.

The results of the SCALE-UP project were categorized into two main areas: 1. Sharing and promotion - Development of a graphic identity to enhance project recognition. - Online dissemination of project results and topics related to social entrepreneurship. - In-person promotion events to share project outcomes and engage stakeholders. 2. Implementation - Creation of a MOOC on social entrepreneurship tailored for women social entrepreneurs and VET trainers/business coaches. - Development of a best cases and training & support organizations atlas to showcase successful initiatives. - Establishment of an additional training and inspirational library to provide extended learning resources. - Design of a self-evaluation test to help users assess their entrepreneurial skills and knowledge.