BACKGROUND

Recent statistics have shown that, as a result of the worldwide financial crisis which recently hit both European member states and others, many businesses have been forced to downsize their operations, causing unemployment to rise at a rate not seen for many years.

Eurostat estimated that 17.911 million people in the EU27 were unemployed in December 2008, as well as 15,9% of youths were in unemployment in October 2008. With this in mind, the role played by European employment offices and other entities who work with the unemployed has increased, forcing them to be even more prepared to provide guidance and assistance to a greater number of unemployed groups.

In a report by the Commission on Fostering Entrepreneurial Mindsets through Education and Learning, it was concluded that education in entrepreneurship not only increases the chances of start-ups and self-employment but also enhances individuals' economic reward and satisfaction. Therefore, the importance of fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing creative and innovative thinking is crucial for those who directly interact with the unemployed.

Recent research conducted, together with past experience of those organisations involved in the partnership, it was found that there is a lack of training opportunities available for the target group, more specifically opportunities which would develop their knowledge in entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. Moreover, it was clear that those opportunities that currently exist, in the form of guidance support and training, were scarce or very limited to providing knowledge in some specific business areas such as marketing, human recourses, finances etc. without promoting entrepreneurial attitudes and creative and innovative thinking.

This is where the FREE project comes in. FREE has been designed to take a more holistic approach, providing both hard skills/knowledge and soft skills/competences to those who deal with the unemployed, more specifically those who want to start their own businesses.