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Read MoreSKI.F.T. Newsletter #4
Picture: Mathilde Cybulski
Final event of the SKI.F.T. project: Inspiration for a new narrative on social and environmental transition and related capacity-building in a challenging context
Strasbourg, a city leading by example when it comes to linking social and green transition, in partnership with the social economy, hosted the fourth capacity-building seminar and final event of the Skills for Transition (SKI.F.T.) project. It took place on 15 May 2025 and provided an occasion to exchange experience and points of view for more than 80 participants representing social economy enterprises (among them SKI.F.T. beneficiary enterprises), cities and regions and social economy support organisations from different EU Member States as well as representatives of the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee.
The event took place at Kaleidoscoop, a « cross-border place to live and work », emblematic for green, social and economic transition.
The programme, set up by REVES in cooperation with the City of Strasbourg and CRESS Grand-Est, included:
- a presentation of the project and its results;
- an exchange of views with beneficiary enterprises (Zeroban, Rhodes Project, Social Cooperative Tice and others);
- thematic sessions allowing for a deeper discussion of topics such as “local policy frameworks”, “financing” and “impact measurement”, based on good practices from France and other EU Member States;
- a visit of Kaleidoscoop;
- speed-dating sessions with local enterprises and initiatives such as Citiz, Koolof, Les Jardins de Gaia, Byfurk or Vélostation, and much more.
The final panel discussion had the objective to explore perspectives also for an adaptation of policy frameworks to better suit (green transition-related) needs of micro and small social economy enterprises.
Pointing to the importance to experiment, also within public administration, Luan Baptista Ribeiro, Climate Partnership Manager at the London Borough of Sutton underlined that “while the local level (rightly) advocates for more powers and funding to drive positive change, we also need to be more proactive and explore the boundaries of our existing powers, as we simply cannot wait for these to come. In the UK, no one thought our approach was within the existing policy framework, but by testing the boundaries, we proved that it is.”
Fabienne Oré-Courregelongue, City of Bordeaux, illustrated the efforts of her city to integrate green and social transition, including the social economy, into each policy. In this context the city also decided to merge calls for projects, such as a call on circular economy and a call targeting the social and solidarity economy. Moreover, emphasis is put on the development of a true ecosystem around the social economy, including citizen finance approaches in which the city, citizens and other actors join forces to support social economy initiatives. To conclude, Oré-Courregelongue invited participants to the upcoming Global Social Economy Forum which will take place in Bordeaux from 29 to 31 October 2025 and which will include also a number of workshops focusing on green transition.
In view of the current re-orientation of policy priorities at European level and a new focus on larger enterprises in fields such as defence and technology, Giuseppe Guerini, President of CECOP/CICOPA and member of the European Economic and Social Committee, stressed the need for the social economy and its allies “to find a way to present an alternative” and develop a strong narrative. He reminded participants of the fact that 98% of Europe’s businesses are small and medium enterprises, many of which are doing rather well. Referring to the concept of competitiveness, Guerini also pointed to the importance of quality of life and related action at the local level – including the crucial role of the social economy with its added economic, social and environmental value – which is a fundamental factor in keeping territories alive and attracting workforce: “We should keep in mind that the social economy is creating wealth which is shared.”
Baptiste Mandouze, Policy Officer at the European Commission, DG Employment, encouraged participants to build on the potential the social economy has developed to date and to trust in its positive role in anchoring territories. Regarding the Union of Skills and the place of the social economy within it, he explained: “The social economy landscape is evolving fast. It is difficult to predict what skills will be needed in the future. However, when a new practice become established, it is then difficult to take a step back.”
Referring to the place of social and environmental added value and principles such as good governance and cooperation, as they are promoted through sustainability reporting, in future EU policies, Baptiste Mandouze said, “Being competitive is not an objective per se. It needs to be sustainable and has to come together with a shared prosperity agenda. ESG and other types of sustainability reporting have been inspired by social economy principles. This dynamic exists and will continue. Moving towards ESG is the right way to ensure sustainability and long-term competitiveness.”
Pointing to the importance of linking environmental sustainability with social justice, Carl Forsberg, President of the Social Economy Council of the Västra Götaland Region and REVES board member, underlined, in his concluding words, the need to put the social economy at the centre of green transition and to transfer knowledge created in projects such as SKI.F.T. to a large number of other actors.
Antoine Dubois, Vice-President of the Eurometropole Strasbourg in charge of the social economy encouraged the social economy and its allies to better valorise the know-how the social economy has developed in a diversity of fields and to make the values it represents more visible.
Last SKI.F.T. online peer-exchange seminar exploring pathways for future cooperation
A cooperative magazine, a social diary, a cooperative of psychologists, an IT cooperative focusing also on (digital) education, work integration social enterprises, a social research cooperative, associations of craftsmen and -women, or cooperative carpenters – these are only some examples for the broad range of fields of activity covered by those micro and small social economy enterprises that took part in our last SKI.F.T. webinar.
Held on 9 September 2025, the webinar had the objective to provide beneficiaries of SKI.F.T. capacity-building measures with an opportunity to:
- share with other participants their own experiences related to the capacity-building process their enterprise accomplished in the framework of SKI.F.T.;
- share and discuss any remaining questions linked to the process or the specific topic the enterprise decided to focus on; and
- discuss possibilities for future initiatives and cooperation at local/national/transnational level.
After a short presentation, by each participant, of the transition pathway her/his enterprise engaged in during the SKI.F.T. project, participants had the opportunity to take part in two breakout sessions focusing on impact evaluation as well as on communication/marketing. Open questions and sub-topics to be discussed during these sessions had been defined by SKI.F.T. beneficiaries beforehand in a preparatory survey.
During the final session a number of participants expressed their wish to continue the exchange of experience launched with SKI.F.T. and cooperation also at transnational level. Ideas included the establishment of working groups on very specific topics, the creation of a type of purchase groups for additional expert services (including access to specific websites), a joint application for European calls for proposals, or, more in general the creation of a network of micro and small social economy enterprises acting for green transition in order to increase visibility, have easier access to funding and mobilise specific competences.
SKI.F.T. : More than two years of work on green transition with micro and small social economy enterprises
An exciting journey lies behind the SKI.F.T. consortium composed of social economy support organisations from Denmark, Italy and Poland, as well as two European networks for the promotion of the social economy.
For nearly two years we had the pleasure to engage with micro and small social economy enterprises in Denmark, Italy, Poland and other countries within and outside the EU in different ways:
Through a survey and interview involving 75 micro and small social economy enterprises from Denmark, Italy and Poland we found out more about their specific needs with regard to capacity-building and other aspects which would enable these enterprises to contribute to sustainable development and green transition.
More than 80 micro and small social economy enterprises then used the possibility to receive advice and be coached by social economy support organisations in Denmark, Italy and Poland in order to assess their performance regarding environmental sustainability and to identify projects that would further improve the latter. These were cooperatives, associations and social enterprises from Albania, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine covering different fields of activity (food and retail, education and training, IT, social and health services, circular economy, research, …).
Finally, we were able to offer direct financing helping many of the social economy enterprises that had taken part in the advisory and coaching phases to receive additional support of external experts in realising their green transition projects.
Last but not least beneficiary enterprises had the opportunity to join project partners, experts and policymakers in various transnational events such as online and in-person capacity-building seminars, a European webinar, or our final conference in Strasbourg, where they had the possibility to present themselves and their projects, share expertise and new ideas for the future, discuss appropriate policy frameworks, and network.
My shift with SKI.F.T. – beneficiaries share their experience
In Danish, “Skift” means change.
Our project had the objective to help micro and small social economy enterprises to launch new processes of change towards more environmental (and social) sustainability.
You will find some examples and testimonies here below:
Workers Museum Copenhagen: ESG and the definition of focus areas
The Workers Museum has used the SKI.F.T. programme to better understand how others in similar situations approach the green transition — particularly when it comes to prioritising focus areas in its climate accounts and deciding what makes sense to report on in terms of ESG. The personalized support the institution received from SKI.F.T. was appreciated, as “there is a big difference between a production company and a museum, and there is no one-size-fits-all model. At the same time, the green transition is still relatively new everywhere, so it is valuable to be able to discuss the challenges with others.”
Eta Beta cooperative: Greening agricultural production and food processing
Eta Beta , located in Bologna (IT), is a ‘mixed’ type A and B social cooperative founded in 1992 as an association of artists engaged in research and experimentation with materials, with a particular focus on initiatives that would at the same time contribute to social inclusion.
The specialized pathway offered by SKI.F.T. enabled Eta Beta to promote sustainable practices within the organization, generating a tangible impact both on production processes and on corporate culture.
Through the services purchased thanks to the direct financial support offered through the SKI.F.T. project (thanks to the SMP-COSME programme), the cooperative achieved significant results, particularly in the areas of agricultural production and food processing.
The now increased use of “ugly but good” agricultural products in Eta Beta’s processed product line results in high-quality products with low environmental impact, while significantly reducing food waste.
In addition, staff took part in a specialized 40-hour training program on sustainable production, food processing, and responsible purchasing, fostering a stronger culture of sustainability within the organization.
At the same time, the cooperative has embarked on a process to obtain sustainability certifications and reporting models, including:
- Organic supply chain certification;
- ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) reporting;
- Gender certifications;
- Management certifications related to social responsibility, quality, and environmental management.
The Institute for Social Research: Focus on an internal sustainability plan as well as environmental&participatory communication
The Institute for Social Research (IRS) (IT) is a non-profit organization that, for over 50 years, has been promoting studies and initiatives aimed at improving social policies and personal services, with a particular focus on sustainability and social inclusion.
Thanks to the call launched by the European SKI.F.T. project, IRS took part in capacity-building activities designed to strengthen internal expertise on sustainability and fully integrate it into the organization’s strategies and practices, through the drafting of an internal Sustainability Plan.
Another key aspect of the program focused on training in environmental and participatory communication, aimed at improving the organization’s “green” positioning and fostering more effective engagement of citizens, stakeholders, and partners.
Biplano’s Journey in SKI.F.T.: Turning Skills into Sustainable Actions
Cooperativa Biplano (IT), based in the province of Bergamo, has long been committed to combining social inclusion with environmental responsibility. Through organic farming, creative reuse, and the employment of people facing mental health challenges, the cooperative has built a model where work is both a livelihood and a tool for community building.
Its participation in the project SKI.F.T. – Skills for Transition, financed by the European Commission, was a natural step forward, as this initiative aims to strengthen the capacity of social economy enterprises to lead the green transition, offering tailored training and practical tools to make sustainability an integral part of their operations.
With the framework of the SKIFT, Biplano completed a capacity-building programme and implemented a pilot project funded through the SMP-COSME programme with a contribution of 6.700 euro. It was accompanied by CSA COESI.
Through the services purchased thanks to the project’s contribution, the cooperative achieved significant results: strengthened the cooperative’s capacity to act, sharpened its communication, and provided a clear pathway for integrating environmental goals into its social mission and led to discovering new products and partnerships.
The cooperative’s team explored storytelling, digital communication, visual identity, and campaign design. The training was hands-on and strategic, equipping Biplano with the skills to communicate its mission more effectively, engage new audiences, and design initiatives that link environmental goals with social impact.
The cooperative took part in “Raccogli-amo”, a widespread awareness raising initiative promoted in the Lombardy Region in Azzano San Paolo in the Parcoarcobaleno. The event brought together over 100 people for a day of environmental care, children’s workshops on reuse, and tree planting. It became a platform for Biplano to showcase its creative reuse workshop.
In this workshop, discarded clothes and fabrics were transformed into reusable fabric shoppers. More than 100 bags were produced, each one a practical alternative to single-use plastics and a tangible example of circular economy principles in action.
The visibility gained through “Raccogli-amo” led to a collaboration with local business Digeal operating in the food sector, which now distributes Biplano’s recycled-fabric shoppers in its store. This partnership not only extends the reach of the cooperative’s products but also embeds its values into the everyday choices of local consumers — a direct application of the skills and strategies developed during the capacity-building stage.
In February 2025, Biplano took part in the SKI.F.T. transnational seminar in Warsaw. During the event social economy organisations from different countries had a possibility to exchange experiences, explore innovative approaches to the green transition, and strengthen networks. For Biplano, it was an opportunity to deepen its expertise, draw inspiration from peers, and reaffirm the role of social innovation in building a sustainable future.
Biplano’s journey shows that when training, creativity, and community engagement come together, the result is more than the sum of its parts — it is a model for how social enterprises can lead the way in the green transition.
More examples of projects launched by our beneficiaries in the framework of SKI.F.T. can be found in our previous newsletters and event reports.
To come shortly: SKI.F.T. final publication
Would you like to know more about the work SKI.F.T. partners have been realising since 2023 in order to enable micro and small social economy enterprises to move towards environmental sustainability?
We brought together key outputs of our initiative in an online publication which you will be able to find on our project website.
The publication contains:
- Methodological guidelines for the analysis of the performance of a social economy organization and possible improvements, including good practices
- Reference to the SKI.F.T. Repository of programmes and tools
- Communicating green transition efforts – some recommendations, including good practices
- Guidelines for social economy support organisations
- Recommendations to policy-makers
Take a look also at our newsletters, event reports, a list of providers which had offered their expertise on green transition to our beneficiary enterprises, and other material – explore our website : https://skift.kooperationen.dk/forside/
The transnational project « Skills for transition : Increasing the impact of small social economy enterprises » (SKI.F.T.), launched in October 2023, is co-funded by the EU SMP-COSME programme. It brings together social economy intermediary organisations and training providers from Denmark, Poland and Italy, as well as two European networks: Kooperationen (DK), FISE (PL), CSA COESI (IT), Demetra Formazione (IT), Legacoop Emilia-Romagna (IT), REVES aisbl and CECOP.
Through SKI.F.T., project partners provided specific advisory and coaching services to micro and small social economy enterprises, enabling the latter to review their business model towards stronger environmental sustainability. Moreover, beneficiary enterprises had the opportunity to receive direct financial support to purchase additional coaching and mentoring responding to their specific needs and fields of interest (e.g. creation of local social green value chains, communication, use of digital tools to facilitate certain type of processes, etc.). Specific attention was paid to a collective approach, which encouraged stronger cooperation between micro and small social economy enterprises as such as well as between the latter and their different partners and stakeholders.
For more information: https://skift.kooperationen.dk/forside/
Views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor EISMEA can be held responsible for them.
