Introduction & Aim of the Course
The Consultant Training Toolkit developed in the Erasmus+ DigiENTAiD project aims to provide consultants with comprehensive resources to effectively support small businesses and self-employed individuals in their digital readiness and resilience-building efforts. The toolkit focuses on key competencies and offers didactical guides and materials that consultants can utilize in their training sessions. The indicative contents of the toolkit include:
- Overcoming Mental Barriers: Helping businesses address and overcome psychological barriers to change, fostering a growth mindset, and building resilience at an individual and team level. This section emphasizes the importance of organizational culture, processes, networking, and support systems.
- Pivoting and Agility: Equipping consultants with the knowledge and tools to assist businesses in embracing change and developing agile practices. This section highlights agility as a core entrepreneurial competence, enabling businesses to adapt quickly to new circumstances.
- Crisis Management Competencies: Providing consultants with the necessary expertise to guide businesses through crisis situations. This includes rethinking and developing business models, value propositions, and product portfolios, as well as effective trend monitoring, liquidity assurance, operational planning, leadership, and change management.
- Digital Outreach and Customer Relationship Skills: Assisting businesses in enhancing their digital outreach efforts and improving customer relations. This section covers topics such as customer acquisition, customer retention, online communication, marketing, data analysis, understanding business and user needs, selecting appropriate systems, and building a loyal customer base through digitalization. Technical skills for customer relationship management systems and utilizing digital B2C platforms are also addressed.
- Digital and Green Competencies: Recognizing the importance of environmental sustainability for economic sustainability, this section covers the basics of sustainability and eco-friendly business operations. Consultants will learn how to integrate green practices into supply chains, distribution, production, customer relations, and organizational culture. The importance of networking and support in fostering digital and green competencies are also emphasized.
By equipping consultants with this training toolkit, they are better prepared to support small businesses and self-employed individuals in their journey towards digital transformation and building resilience in the face of challenges. The toolkit provides practical guidance, resources, and frameworks to help businesses thrive in the digital age while incorporating sustainability principles.
Target group
The target group for this Consultant Training Toolkit comprises small businesses and self-employed entrepreneurs who have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These individuals and businesses face challenges stemming from outdated, non-digital business models and a lack of digital readiness. They require support to become crisis-resilient by adopting digital business models and effectively reaching out to customers through digital channels. The DigiENTAid project aims to provide quick and accessible training, delivered through trusted support structures, to help this target group digitize their businesses and develop the necessary skills, competencies, and attitudes to emerge stronger from the crisis.
Self-Assessment Test of Crisis Agility and Digital Skills
Course specific objectives
- Overcome mental barriers by helping businesses address psychological barriers to change and foster resilience, emphasizing organizational culture and support systems.
- Promote agility and equip consultants to assist businesses in adapting to change and embracing agile practices.
- Provide expertise for guiding businesses through crisis situations, including rethinking business models and effective trend monitoring.
- Support businesses in improving their digital outreach and customer relationships, covering customer acquisition, retention, and technical skills.
- Teach consultants sustainability basics and how to integrate eco-friendly practices into business operations.
