Innovative Skills For Benefit Companies

<< Background >>The EU Commission adopted the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) that is one of the main building blocks of the EU Green Deal, the new agenda for sustainable growth. The EU transition to a circular economy (CE), part of the EU industrial strategy, aims to create sustainable growth and jobs. It’s also a prerequisite to achieve the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality target. The transition to a more CE is an essential contribution to the EU’s effort to develop a sustainable and resource-efficient economy. In the light of these considerations, S4BC project is linked to the need to support this transformation through the elaboration of the Benefit Corporation business model which combines the goal of profit with the creation of positive impacts on society and environment. Social/environmental changes are becoming increasingly important drivers of labor demand and skills supply across business sectors. In this framework the heart of the project was to define skills that could allow the sustainable evolution of companies. Therefore, S4BC developed a Curriculum and a training Course for ‘Operation Specialist for Benefit Corporation’, a professional profile who directs the company's actions towards sustainability.<< Objectives >>The general objectives of S4BC are:• Developing the ‘Operation Specialist for Benefit Corporations’ Curriculum and training course• Within the context of the EQF and related processes for ECVET, transferring knowledge, skills and abilities• Enable learners to work within a Benefit Corporation or a Benefit Company with operational tasks. The Course has been addressed to VET learners and job seekers with EQF 4/5 qualification levels.Specific objectives are:• Outlining the characteristic of a BC Model at EU level • Defining the gaps of skills needed by the BC• Sharing a methodology for building a vocational training path and related curriculum for Operational Specialist for BC• Developing tools and teaching materials for the training course • Developing an 'Exploitation Strategy' to spread the Curriculum in Operational Specialist for BC and related training path in an EU dimensionAll these objectives responded to the key need outlined by the S4BC Consortium: to foster the cultural transformation of European business models through vocational training and skills upgrading actions.<< Implementation >>The main implemented activities are:- Analysis of Benefit Corporations evolution and fine tuning of training needs map (‘Production of Project Result n. 1’ led by Kaunas STP);- Development of ‘Operation Specialist for BCs’ Curriculum and related vocational training course (‘Production of Project Result n. 2’ led by C.L. Adult Education and Training);- Piloting and Exploitation Strategy of new ‘Operation Specialist for BCs’ qualification (Production of Project Result n. 3 led by FCSVM; the Pilot Test was done in Italy and Portugal).-1 Internationalization Strategy: plan closely related to the Exploitation Strategy led by ITE Network.- A ‘Short-term joint staff training events’ in Aveiro (the activity took place during the Pilot Test of the Operation Specialist for BCs vocational training course provided opportunities for tutors from the 6 VET Partners of S4BC to cooperate in training course and joint teaching activities with their peers);-5 Multiplier Events (one in each Participant Country) for relevant for beneficiaries, target groups and all stakeholders;The following cross-cutting activities completed the activity plan:-1 Communication and Dissemination Plan for beneficiaries, target groups and all stakeholders led by ITE-Network;-1 Evaluation and monitoring Plan and Report (led by MANRA).<< Results >>The results achieved by the project are:1. Analysis (and Workshop) on Benefit Corporation Model at EU level and a training needs map. The analysis aimed at examining how the BCs can become European key players following the European Commission Policies. The Document contains: at macroeconomic level, a list of potential and positive spin-offs in line with the E.C. Policies; at educational level: a review of best practices and educational gaps of BCs.2. Training Course and related Curriculum of Operation Specialist for BCs: a Training Course consistent with ECVET System organized in Training Units (T.U.) and divided into Modules. Each T.U. contains the training objectives and the minimum duration. From the methodological point of view, the training course comprises indications on the knowledge, skills and abilities that each participant must acquire. The course also includes precise prescription on assessment of learning and related evaluation system. This comprehensive ECVET approach, based around developing and piloting units, learning aims and assessment criteria for the new qualification, has been adapted to the national contexts within the partner countries. In terms of training provision, the Course covers the follow 5 areas:Unit 1: Legal aspects of Benefit CompaniesUnit 2: Business Aspects of Benefit Companies Unit 3: Technical Aspects of Benefit Companies Unit 4: Strategic aspects (environmental sustainability and social inclusion, etc) Unit 5: Benefit Companies at European and International levels 3. A clear and multimodal tools and teaching materials for Operation Specialist for BCs in 5 EU languages.4. Two Pilot Tests with 70 participants (30 in PT, 40 in IT), more than planned, indeed at the proposal stage the pilot test was foreseen for 30 participants in total5. 'Exploitation Strategy' to spread the Operation Specialist for BCs at EU level.In addition to all of the above, the partners have developed a more complete Timeline with detailed information about activity, its responsible partner and providing information on the tasks to be carried out (job definition, competency analysis, translation, publication), taking into account the experience of each of the member of the S4BC Consortium. The document also served as an effective Project Management tool for partners to ensure that Milestones are reached on time.