New economic and social business models to support young entrepreneurs

The development of entrepreneurial best practices in vocational training in arts and crafts is likely to evolve in the future due to growing global awareness of economic and social business models issues and the need for sustainable practices. To better understand this evolution, this study aims to explore how a systematic mapping of entrepreneurial practices inside arts and crafts vocational education can expand our thinking to support young entrepreneurship. In doing so, we position the research for this report within MOSAIC – Mastering job-Oriented Skills in Arts & crafts thanks to Inclusive Centres of vocational excellence – an Erasmus+ project exploring how the arts, crafts and design sectors can respond more accurately to new emerging social needs and changes. Within MOSAIC, the topic is introduced from different angles: social business models, digital and social entrepreneurship, digital revolution and sharing / social economy. The main focus is on digitalization (including marketing digital communication and social media) and cooperation / shared economy (including shared spaces, coworking, slow-made, circular economy). The study is aimed at young entrepreneurs, which are representative for the sector, considering that around 85% of craftspeople in Europe are self-employed. Findings bring to light three categories of typical characteristics of entrepreneurial arts and crafts practices: strategies and policies (better aligned strategies with topics of sustainability, social inclusion, digitalisation, research and development), context/environment (agile business management, strong networking) and market (reconciling entrepreneurial matters with financial robustness and pace of activity focused on crafts). These characteristics define structured ways to think about the nature and form of best practices that emerge in the area of entrepreneurship in arts and crafts. As these forces continue to drive the development of entrepreneurial vocational education, we are expected to see shifting best practices that can accommodate new visions. This leads to an expanded conceptualisation of entrepreneurial sustainability, in which social, sustainable and economic factors intersect.