In an open and modernised format, StartCraft has been developed into an online platform where you will find an e-learning section, teaching materials for trainers, and a tool to analyse your business idea.

The contents, reviewed by professionals and elaborated from market research and focus groups, offer all the necessary knowledge to create and operate a company in a context in which online shopping, promotion on social networks or the creation of a functional, attractive, and simple web space for your target audience, among others, are predominant.

In addition, access to the platform is quick and free (just register here) and will be configured in one of the six available languages: Spanish, English, French, Greek, Polish or Italian.

Last Friday 30 September, during the conference “Crafts, improve your business skills for the future“, some professionals from different sectors such as ceramics, jewellery or fashion already had the opportunity to attend the presentation of the platform and observe first-hand its operation and final results.

Those attending the event, which took place in the Fais-Le Toi-Même space, also made the most of the occasion to share experiences and weaknesses, and to provide solutions, new sales channels and greater commercial projection.

If you would like to find out all the news from the latest StartCraft meetings, access the newsletter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La entrada Startcraft’s online learning platform is now available for students and entrepreneurs in the craft sector se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

The learning packages and the market training tool that the initiative makes available to final users have now been finalised, the training materials have also successfully passed the pilot phase of the platform (which can be found at the following link), and the results will be published in the next newsletter.

Two years into the project, StartCraft will be completed by the end of September. By then, VET students in crafts and future entrepreneurs in this industry will be able to access the final version of this online platform.

If you want to know about the review of the final results of the platform, its presentation to the public and wish to be part of the corporate networking, stay tuned for our communications from 27 to 30 September, when the project management organisations will meet in Brussels.

To find out more about this phase of the programme, you can access the newsletter here.

La entrada The teaching material of the European Startcraft project have successfully reached the piloting milestones se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

Once the learning packages and the market training tool have been developed, the partners have been in contact with craft students and experienced trainers and craftsmen in order to evaluate their outputs and offer a different perspective on how to improve the lessons.

Now, the project starts a new phase with the development of didactic notes for VET trainers. This will help VET students and new and future craft entrepreneurs to complete their online training with recommendations and pedagogical contents that will be divided into two parts.

Click here to access the newsletter for more details about the initiative.

La entrada The European Startcraft project continues to support the training of craft entrepreneurs se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

This project, launched in September 2020, seeks to develop training and practical education for craft entrepreneurs in 6 European countries. During this second meeting online, the Chamber, as coordinator of the programme, shared with the rest of the partners an overview of the project implementation and reporting.

Additionally, the representative of InnoHub, the quality lead of the consortium, Marta Fernandez, presented the quality results obtained in this area by the consortium so far. the overall balance is very positive, highlighting the good communication among partners.

Kainotomia, the communication and dissemination lead of the consortium, showed the main project communication achievements so far. All the partners had the possibility to share their ideas to increase the engagement and participation of craft entrepreneurs and VET organizations through social networks.

Finally, the lead of the development of the training modules, the organization Smooland, presented the work to be developed by each partner and the materials to use. designed considering the needs of the artisans. These needs were identified by the consortium in a research developed in January through focus groups and surveys.

For that reason, the project will soon put at craft entrepreneurs and future craft entrepreneur’s disposal different learning modules on how to draft contracts, internet sales, social media marketing, SEO marketing, pricing products and services, well-being and work-life balance, and cultural value of craft products, among other online courses.

The Chamber thanks all the project partners their participation and hopes to continue enhancing these collaborations to benefit entrepreneurs and future entrepreneurs in the craft sector.

To stay updated about the project progress follow the project Facebook and LinkedIn or contact the Chamber at startcraft@e-camara.com.

La entrada StartCraft, a project adapted to craft entrepreneurs needs. se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

StartCraft is a project funded by the European Erasmus+ programme, whose main objective is to develop and offer training and practical education in entrepreneurship and business management for artisan entrepreneurs. For this reason, and in order to ensure that these online training courses are adapted to the real-life challenges faced by artisans and craftworkers, the project launched these meetings with the collaboration and intervention of craft professionals.

During these sessions, the participants were able to learn more about the project in detail, as well as to put forward the difficulties they had to face when starting their own business. They also exchanged views with StartCraft managers on training, tax issues, customer acquisition methods and how Covid has affected them.

The Chamber thanks all participants for their testimonials and advice.

Find out more about the program here.

La entrada The forums “StartCraft, Co-innovating for the future of crafts” gathered testimonials and advice from artisans to achieve successful crafts business. se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

StartCraft is a project financed under the Erasmus + program, and whose main objective is to develop and offer training and practical entrepreneurship education for managers of crafts businesses. The project has a complete set of educational materials for artisans, including an online learning platform, a market training tool, as well as teaching notes for vocational training centers.

To ensure that these online trainings are adapted to the real-life challenges faced by faced by artisans and reach an appropriate quality level, the project will be supported by external evaluators representing educators and artisans.

On the first phase of this project a Mobile Report about crafts entrepreneurship and crafts entrepreneurial skills demand will be developed. Therefore, during the month of January, the Chamber is conducting a study on:

• The current methods and approaches as well as the main skills being taught and developed, through a research among VET and C-VET educators, especially from crafts and business fields.
• The needs of artisans when starting a business, the challenges of managing a craft business, the skills, and aptitudes necessary to be a successful artisan entrepreneur, as well as the challenges imposed by the current health crisis, through the meetings held on January 18, 20 and 25 with artisans and future artisans from Belgium and Luxembourg.

Thanks to the support of IFAPME and Karel Goetghebeur, the Chamber and its project partners have successfully adapted the methodology to develop the research of this first phase.

If you are interested in participating in the study for educators, you can complete our survey through the following link.

To find out more about the programme click here.

In collaboration with:

La entrada How to innovate in craft education? The Chamber asks the experts. se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.

This first meeting of the partnership was held by videoconference due to the current travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During this meeting, the Chamber, as coordinator of the programme, shared with the rest of the partners the main guidelines for locally managing the programme and promoting the participation of both established crafts entrepreneurs and potential crafts entrepreneurs or local crafts support bodies.

Additionally, Nieves Verdejo, representative of InnoHub, one of the seven members of the partnership and in charge of the project’s quality control, presented her approach on how to manage the project in terms of quality. This ensures that the project operates under standards of excellence, harmonized among all members of the partnership, and thus guaranteeing the smooth development of the project and of its final result.

Then, Cécile Sauvage, as representative of another member of the partnership, MEUS, then gave an overview of how it intends to maintain control over the risks that may arise throughout the project, with particular emphasis on the impact of the current Covid-19 crisis. She also presented possible responses or action protocols to be adopted in the event that certain risk situations common to this type of project might arise.

During the second day, Mike Triantafillou, on behalf of KAINOTOMIA, the Greek member of the partnership, presented the part of the project they are in charge of: the communication and dissemination strategy of the project. Also, he explained the different tools that will be used by the partnership to make the project visible.

Finally, Pilar Aguado, representative of MEUS, explained to the partners the methodology to be followed when elaborating the first of the tools that the partnership will produce: a report on the most demanded skills in the crafts sector.

The project seeks to involve:

• Crafts entrepreneurs: illustrators, carpenters, restorers, jewellers, chocolate makers, brewers, etc. All professionals who carry out unique works, with a personal stamp and made by hand, who sell their products privately and without intermediaries.
• Future and potential entrepreneurs in fields related to craftsmanship, such as furniture design, sculpture or illustration.
• Organisations that offer professional training to craftworkers.

If you are interested in participating in the programme, you can find more information here or you can contact the Chamber at startcraft@e-camara.com.

La entrada Launch of the StartCraft project, a training programme for craftworkers se publicó primero en Cámara Oficial de Comercio de España en Bélgica y Luxemburgo.