Description of transnational project 1.1 Name of transnational project "The Suburb Startup Guide & FAQ" 1.2 Rationale and objectives The goal of this project (Jan 2017 Dec 2019) is to develop an innovative creative hub thinking coaching program for multicultural entrepreneurial candidates of all ages, who are living in old commercial suburbs and are in need of a springboard to start a business in Arts, Design & Fashion, Labs, Music and/or Food disciplines. In doing so, we aim to maximize their chances to start up and develop a successful business by supporting their intrinsic needs through guidance and facilitation, and, as an indirect consequence, to improve the social cohesion and the image of the suburb. Our aim is to exchange experiences over a two year period (year one and year two), and to come up with a universal handbook for starters in suburb areas in year three. Problem addressed, common interests, methodology Problem addressed (1st) Fear, uncertainty of potential starters and lack of support regarding process guidance, business knowledge, financial and space obstacles for starters of disadvantaged groups (target group explained below) (2nd) Long term premises vacancy in suburbs Common interests Association International Council for Cultural Centers (I3C) with its main program Bread Houses Network (BHN) in Sofia (Bulgaria): similar to the creative hubs set up by Berchem Creatives, BHN has developed centres for community building, creativity and social enterprise. Their mission is not just solely for individuals, but also for inspiring the local community to develop their creative potential, regardless of age, profession, gender, special needs or ethnic background. Bread Houses are physical locations that promote cross pollination: local people are brought together during the collective bread baking sessions often resulting in innovative ideas being conceived. The social enterprise bakeries support niche groups in the same way as the Belgian organisation Creative Cities does, being principally disadvantaged people and empowering them to be enterprising in the traditional baking sector. Bulgaria Association of Business Angels (Bulgaria Angels) in Sofia (Bulgaria) offers a platform for promoting interaction between starting entrepreneurs and business angels. Just as with the Creative Cities initiative, their aim is to lower the threshold for potential entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. With the aim of bridging the 1
financial challenges that face starters, they introduce interested investors, also called Business Angels, to potential starters. Bulgarian Angels also work with universities and colleges in order to offer the best possible business training and selection procedures. Berchem Creatives in Antwerp (Belgium) is a test case to demonstrate that suburban districts in Flanders (the Dutch speaking part of Belgium), with all their cultural diversity, creativity, as well as the waning traditional retailing activities (vacant premises), just like Berchem in Antwerp, can actually provide a fertile place for potential entrepreneurs where space can be offered for innovative and sustainable creative hub thinking initiatives. The expertise acquired since has been deployed in this project. The initiative is focusing on start up projects within the creative sector. Like the projects in the other countries, Berchem Creatives also use empty premises for things such as starter information sessions, training sessions, etc. Methodology to apply on all sites Streamline and apply the 12 month program of process guidance for potential starters in Bulgaria and Belgium. Link empty premises with potential starters: reach agreements with owners of vacant abandoned premises in suburban areas to make them available to starting entrepreneurs. Link potential starters with interested investors and social impact investors (business angels). Revive, improve and inspire neighbourhoods/suburbs with cultural activities and with quality original, creative, innovative small businesses that promote a sense of community and help locals to develop their creative potential. Create a supportive network and umbrella brand for all participants. Common transnational objectives of the partners Run test cases (sharing and putting into practice of best practices) and a 12 months program in parallel in Antwerp (Berchem Creatives), Sofia (Bulgaria Angels and I3C/BHN), with respect to information starter sessions, intake interviews, making space available (using vacant premises), follow up and support with the starting up of sustainable micro enterprises in the social, creative or innovative sector. Our aim is to exchange experiences over a 2 year period (year one and year two) and in year three to come up with a universal handbook for starters in suburb areas. 2
Target group Persons from deprived urban neighbourhoods Ethnic or national minorities Disadvantaged groups Migrants Women Starting micro enterprises (fewer than 10 employees) Products, outputs and deliverables Deliverable: Universal handbook and FAQ for creative innovative starters in suburb areas The test activities for Berchem Creatives, as well as activities with the transnational partners will be implemented in the initial year (2017). Following evaluation by Flemish partner Artevelde University College, plus insights offered by the transnational partners, the activities will be adjusted where possible and then repeated the next year (2018). By 2019, the promoter, the Flemish partner and the transnational partners want to implement the development of the final version of a Universal handbook and FAQ for creative innovative starters in suburb areas for helping and supporting similar initiatives with the successful start of the creative hubs programme for supporting multicultural, innovative start ups in the creative sector. These are freely available and accessible for all organisations who would like to implement similar projects in the suburban areas of both Flemish and European cities. Added value of the activities and planned results for each partner Knowledge exchange and distribution : depending on the point reached in the maturation phase, the transnational partners together will simultaneously carry out tests in their own areas, or they may already have completed this challenge and are helping each other to set up the activities and develop the tools and vice versa, to come up with insights to... create an appropriate strategy for the district reuse vacant or underutilised buildings and infrastructure create jobs in existing local businesses and cultural activities, as well as in the construction and reconstruction of buildings widen the range of products and services available from local businesses with creative enterprises train the next generation of cultural workers attract and retain traditional creative businesses increase the consumption and participation by local residents 3
Incorporation of horizontal aspects (gender, CSR, ) Similar to the creative hubs set up by Berchem Creatives, the transnational partners aim to develop centres for community building, creativity and social enterprise. Our mission is not just solely for individual start ups and innovative social organisations, but also for inspiring the local community to develop their creative potential, regardless of age, profession, gender, special needs or ethnic background. The core of the transnational collaboration is to develop an innovative creative hub thinking coaching program for multicultural entrepreneurial candidates of all genders and all ages, while taking care of training the next generation of sustainable cultural workers, follow up and support with the starting up of sustainable micro enterprises in the creative industry. The test cases in both countries aim to demonstrate that suburban districts, with all their cultural diversity and creativity, are actually able to provide a fertile place for potential entrepreneurs where space can be offered for innovative and sustainable creative hub thinking initiatives. 1.3 Work programme and working methodology Planned transnational activities Project management Coordination and follow up, project meetings: physically twice a year at the partner sites, and via Skype on a monthly basis (2017 2018). Desk research Identify, relevant research already developed tools worldwide (2017 2018). Qualitative inquiry Identify, share, compare and learn from the candidate starters' needs and from the partners' working methods (2017 2018): Campaigning communication & PR: press releases, blog articles, video testimonials of new hubs, Recruitment communication: flyers, oral presentation, website forms,... Information sessions: PowerPoints material, scripts used, Intake interviews: scripts used for interviews and mental checks, Individual coaching: inform on micro crediting, help with individual business plan setups, assisting in personal branding, Plug, Play & Pray tracks: aftercare program, aftercare processes, scripts and networking activities to stimulate and empower established start ups and entrepreneurs. Adapt & streamline the 12 months program Updated test case, based on mutual partner learnings (2018) Prepare and present the universal handbook for suburb startups (2019) Methodology for sharing information, results and working tools Use Google Drive and Dropbox to share information and tools Set up an Excel file to track testing results in all transnational areas Use Skype and Google hangouts to keep each organisation in sync 4
Time schedule for milestones, outcomes and events 2017 + 2018 Desk Research: sharing and learning in detail each partner s best practices through monthly skype meetings and meeting face to face twice a year (once in Belgium and once in Sofia) 2017 + 2018 Qualitative inquiry Identify, share, compare and learn from the candidate starters' needs and from the partners' working methods and apply the 12 months program at the 3 sites. 2018 Selection, training and starting of a test case in Belgium based on I3C/BHN and BA s inputs 2018 Adapt the 12 months program where necessary and streamline it at the three sites 2019 Presentation on universal handbook for suburb startups The promoter and the partner work on this activity using the following indicators: Targeted results for 2017 2019 Jan Dec 2017 Jan Dec 2018 Jan June 2019 Handbook is written up and ready for conversion to PDF. X The project activities are described below step by step, and will contribute to the creation of a universal handbook called the Suburban Start up Guide & FAQ that is appropriate for use by organisations in former commercial suburban areas in European cities, who are involved in the process supervision of super diverse start ups in the creative sector. 5
Project activities focus on low threshold motivation, stimulation and support for minority target groups of all ages. Support is provided starting from information and introduction sessions ( Kick off session ) at intake interviews ( Intake sessions & mental checks ) for Plug & Play hubs in the capacity of micro enterprises in the creative industry ( Plug & Play hubs ) for an after care process, providing in collaboration with recognised local partners ( After care ) and finally for the roll out of an independent, self supporting, sustainable business in the creative industry ( Sustainable micro enterprises )... over a period of 12 months. With this we are endeavouring to maximise the opportunities for start ups by developing successful, sustainable micro enterprises by supporting and facilitating them using vacant properties in older, suburban districts as creative pop up premises, and therefore indirectly improving the image and social cohesion of such districts. The test activities for Berchem Creatives, as well as activities with the transnational partners will be implemented in the initial year (2017). Following evaluation by Flemish partner Artevelde University College, plus insights offered by the transnational partners, the activities will be adjusted where possible and then repeated the next year (2018). Therefore the added value given by the transnational partners will include: knowledge exchange and distribution, etc. Depending on the point reached in the maturation phase, the transnational partners together will simultaneously carry out tests in their own areas, or they may already have completed this challenge and are helping Berchem Creatives to set up the activities and develop the tools or vice versa. By 2019, the promoter, the Flemish partner and the transnational partners want to implement the development of the final version of the Handbook & FAQ for helping and supporting similar initiatives with the successful start of the creative hubs programme for supporting multicultural, innovative start ups in the creative sector. These will be freely available and accessible for all organisations who would like to implement similar projects in the suburban areas of both Flemish and European cities. Dissemination strategy The Suburban Start up Guide & FAQ will be introduced at a (international) networking event, and also be available on a website free of charge. The details are worked out specifically in the dissemination file once the project is validated. Evaluation The test activities for Berchem Creatives, as well as activities with the transnational partners will be tested in the initial year (2017). Following evaluation by Flemish partner Artevelde University College, plus insights offered by the transnational partners, the activities will be adjusted where possible and then repeated the 6
next year (2018). Therefore the added value given by the transnational partners will include: knowledge exchange and distribution. Depending on the point reached in the maturation phase, the transnational partners together will simultaneously carry out tests in their own areas, or they may already have completed this challenge and are helping Berchem Creatives to set up the activities and develop the tools or vice versa.in the end all materials and experiences are written down in a guidbook for European startup initiatives in suburbs. The promoter and the partner follow up the development of this activity using the following indicators per year: Interviewing participants in each phase Benchmark indicators for evaluation sessions with European partner 1.4 Organisation and decision making Contribution and responsibilities of each partner Creative Cities vzw is an organisation that by way of communications and process guidance wants to support and manage innovative start ups in former commercial suburban districts via "creative hub thinking". Creative hubs are basically 'plug & play buildings in an innovative and hybrid form provisionally occupied by starters working in the creative sector (Food, Arts, Lab, Design, Cafés and Podiums). Creative Cities vzw strives for excellence and sustainability, which is implemented by its start ups. Creative Cities vzw s vision is based on the changes and challenges that the UNIZO action plan De Bedrijvige Kern [the busy centre] brings and also the ambitions that Creative Cities as an organisation fosters. Artevelde University College, the Entrepreneurship 3.0 Research Centre, is responsible for organising the testing and benchmarking of the startup programme. If necessary, they will develop tools together with the promotor. Bulgaria Association of Business Angels agrees to share their working methods, to streamline and implement the 12 month training program in their processes, apply Creative Cities knowhow on reaching agreements with tenants of empty premises, assist in the building of a Business Angels Network for Creative Cities in Berchem. Bulgaria Association International Council for Cultural Centers with its main program Bread Houses Network agrees to share their working methods regarding selection, training and organisation of their cultural bread houses and social bakeries, to streamline and implement the 12 month training program in their processes, assist in the creation of a test case in Belgium and apply Creative Cities knowhow on reaching agreements with tenants of empty premises. 7
Role and tasks relating to the coordination of the TCA Arrangements for decision making Monthly (skype) meetings Physical meetings 2/ year Working language(s) English 1.5 Budget for transnational work Activity Partner 1 Partner 2 Partner 3 Total budget budget budget budget Creative Bulgarian Association Cities, Association International Belgium of Business Council for Angels, Cultural Bulgaria Centers/ Bread Houses Network, Bulgaria Project management Coordination and 80 000 15 000 15 000 110 000 follow up, project meetings: physically twice a year at the partner sites, and via Skype on a monthly basis (2017 2018). Desk research Identify, relevant research 50.000 5 000 5 000 60 000 already developed tools worldwide (2017 2018). Qualitative inquiry Identify, share, compare 100.000 10 000 20 000 130 000 and learn from the candidate starters' needs and from the partners' working methods (2017 2018): Campaigning communication & PR: press releases, blog articles, video testimonials of new hubs, Recruitment communication: flyers, oral presentation, website forms,... 8
Information sessions : PowerPoints material, scripts used, Intake interviews: scripts used for interviews and mental checks, Individual coaching : inform on micro crediting, help with individual business plan setups, assisting in personal branding, Plug, Play & Pray tracks: aftercare program, aftercare processes, scripts and networking activities to stimulate and empower established start ups and entrepreneurs. Adapt & streamline the 12 months program 25.000 2 500 27.500 Updated test case, based on mutual partner learnings (2018) Last but not least: prepare and present the universal handbook for suburb startups (2019). 2. Signatures of partners Each partner undertakes to carry out the tasks and fulfil the duties set out above as part of the transnational project, on the condition that they are granted ESF funding set out in 1.6 above. If for whatever reason any of the partners is not granted this support, this TCA must be amended or cancelled. Subject to the agreement of their respective Managing Authorities, the resulting orphan partners may amend the TCA, optionally including new partners, and explore with their Managing Authorities how the grant contracts can be amended. Signed by all the partners: 2.1 Partner 1: Name of organisation: Creative Cities VZW Address: Statiestraat 47, 2600 Antwerp Berchem 9