SILVERSKILL

Results

The SILVERSKILL project addressed one of the key challenges in the Central Baltic region – supporting people aged 50+ in maintaining their employability and strengthening their entrepreneurial competences in response to demographic change and labour market transformation. Many older adults possess valuable professional experience but often lack confidence in entrepreneurship, digital skills and access to practical support for developing business ideas. The project responded to these needs by developing a cross-border training programme that combined entrepreneurship, digital competences, sustainability and personal development.

The training program was jointly designed and implemented by TalTech Virumaa College and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. Throughout the project, the program was continuously improved based on participants’ feedback, practical experience and the expertise of both partners. This iterative approach ensured that the training remained relevant, practical and closely aligned with the real needs of the target group.

A total of 120 participants from Estonia and Finland completed the program and strengthened their entrepreneurial competences, successfully achieving the project’s result indicator. Participants developed practical knowledge in business planning, opportunity recognition, customer and market analysis, value proposition development, digital tools, teamwork, financial planning and sustainable business practices. The training combined workshops, practical assignments, mentoring and peer learning, enabling participants to apply new knowledge directly to their own business ideas and professional activities.

The project generated measurable and lasting impacts beyond the planned indicators. Participants reported increased self-confidence, stronger entrepreneurial motivation, improved digital competences and greater readiness to explore self-employment or continue participating actively in the labour market. Many participants refined existing business models, developed new business ideas, introduced digital solutions into their work and adopted more sustainable approaches in their professional activities. The practical nature of the program encouraged participants to immediately apply newly acquired knowledge in real-life situations.

Cross-border cooperation was one of the project’s key strengths. The Estonian and Finnish partners exchanged expertise and good practices throughout the project and jointly developed the training program based on participants’ needs and feedback. This cooperation strengthened the quality, relevance and sustainability of the program and reinforced the long-term partnership between the participating organisations.

The project has demonstrated clear sustainability beyond its implementation period. In Estonia, the SILVERSKILL training program is already being used as the basis for a new national project funded by the Just Transition Fund. The experience, methodology and training approach developed during SILVERSKILL continue to support new target groups, demonstrating that the project’s results remain relevant and create long-term impact beyond the lifetime of the Central Baltic project.
Overall, SILVERSKILL successfully achieved its objective of strengthening entrepreneurial competences among older adults while contributing to improved employability, lifelong learning, social inclusion and regional resilience in both Estonia and Finland. The project also established a strong foundation for future cooperation and the continued development of entrepreneurship training for adults.