Activate
Supporting artisans in the green and digital transition
The project responds to a common challenge across Europe how to optimise not CORE activities, spare time, resources and prevent waste.
The project aims to support artisans, craftspeople and self-employed workers in improving their competitiveness by integrating sustainable and digital practices into their daily work.
The project develops a practical learning pathway helping users analyse key areas of their professional activity such as administration, production, supply chain, marketing and customer relations.
Through a collaborative learning process, partners co-create resources that allow artisans to:
- understand how sustainability and digital tools can improve their work
- identify practical steps to modernise their business processes
- reduce environmental impact while maintaining quality and authenticity
- strengthen resilience and competitiveness in changing markets
The project also strengthens the capacity of trainers, consultants and organisations working with artisans to provide relevant learning opportunities adapted to adult learners.
Inspiration
Across Europe, artisans, craftspeople and self-employed workers play a crucial role in local economies, cultural heritage and community development. However, many face difficulties in adapting to the rapid changes linked to digitalisation and sustainability requirements.
ACTIVATE aims to support artisans, craftspeople and self-employed workers in improving their competitiveness by integrating sustainable and digital practices into their daily work.
Training opportunities often address only specific skills (for example marketing or digital tools) and rarely provide an integrated approach combining environmental sustainability, innovation and practical business development. As a result, many artisans lack clear guidance on where to start and how to adapt their work processes to current market demands.
ACTIVATE responds to this need by supporting artisans in strengthening their green and digital competences through practical and accessible tools aligned with European priorities such as the Green Deal, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and digital transition strategies.
Impact
At organisational level, the project strengthens cooperation between European partners working in vocational education, innovation and community development, improving their capacity to design inclusive training solutions aligned with EU priorities such as the Green Deal and lifelong learning.
In the longer term, ACTIVATE contributes to:
- increased awareness of sustainability and digital transition opportunities among artisans
- improved access to practical learning resources for self-employed worker
- stronger cooperation between training providers and local economic actors
- transferability of results to other sectors and European contexts
- support to more inclusive and sustainable local development ecosystems
The Core Results
The 3 elements created by the parnters are designed to for a practical, learning-by-doing programme: users first understand their needs through the Roadmap, then use the Toolkit to act on them, and finally rely on the e-learning contents to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their green and digital skills.
The Roadmap is the practical guide that helps artisans, craftspeople, artists and self-employed workers analyse the main areas of their work — such as accounting, billing, marketing, supply chain, customer relations and daily organisation — and identify where they can become more sustainable and digital. It works as a step-by-step self-assessment and planning tool.
The Toolkit supports users in completing the Roadmap. For each step, it provides practical resources such as tips, templates, checklists, video tutorials, examples and simple instructions. Its purpose is to help users move from reflection to action, making concrete improvements in their work methods.
The e-learning / micro-learning units provide the basic knowledge users need to make informed decisions. They explain key topics such as sustainability, SDGs, GreenComp, DigComp, circular economy, digital tools, short supply chains and task automation in a simple and accessible way. These short units can be used flexibly, including on smartphones, so that busy adults can learn at their own pace.
The consortium
ACTIVATE brings together organisations working in education, sustainability and digital learning to co-create practical tools that support artisans in updating their work methods without losing the value of their craftsmanship. They combine expertise in vocational education, sustainability, digital skills and community development.
ARTES (IT)
Supports artisans and small organisations in developing skills, innovation capacity and international cooperation opportunities.
Social Effect Network (LT)
Provides expertise in sustainability, social innovation and competence frameworks supporting green transition.
NIKANOR
(BG)
Specialised in digital learning and adult education methodologies supporting skills development and digital transformation.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.