As Europe accelerates its green transition, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are being called upon to play a leading role. But sustainable change doesn’t happen by accident — it requires forward-thinking leadership, practical tools, and a strong learning ecosystem.

This was the driving force behind Green ELEMENT, a successful Erasmus+ project that has just reached its conclusion. Designed to empower SME leaders and VET trainers with the competencies needed for green business leadership, the project leaves behind a powerful legacy of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.

What was Green ELEMENT?

Green ELEMENT (Green Business Leadership Training for SMEs) aimed to close the gap between ambition and action in the world of sustainable enterprise. The project focused on developing and delivering training tools for:

• Vocational Education and Training (VET) professionals, and

• SME leaders who are committed to driving green change within their organizations.

At the heart of the project was a new Green Business Leadership Competence (GBLC) Framework, paired with practical resources and an e-learning platform to support lifelong learning in this essential field.

Project achievements

Now that the project has concluded, the Green ELEMENT team proudly reflects on a set of tangible, high-impact outcomes:

• State-of-the-Art Report on Green Business Leadership Competencies, mapping the needs of SME leaders in sustainability.

• Green ELEMENT Trainers’ e-Handbook, a ready-to-use guide full of lessons, activities, and teaching strategies.

• Online Curriculum and E-Learning Platform, making training accessible, flexible, and engaging.

• Train-the-Trainer Event in Cyprus and SME Leaders Training in the Netherlands, both of which tested and validated the resources in real-world settings.

International reach — now including Indonesia

One of the standout successes of Green ELEMENT has been its ability to extend its impact beyond Europe. Through a new collaboration with stakeholders in Indonesia, the project opened up pathways for international knowledge exchange in green leadership.

This partnership showcased the global relevance of the project’s mission and marked an exciting step toward more inclusive, cross-continental cooperation in sustainable vocational education.

A strong European partnership

The project brought together experienced partners from six EU countries: the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Denmark. Each partner contributed unique expertise in entrepreneurship, training, sustainability, and digital learning — creating a powerful synergy that drove the project’s success.

What's next?

Although the Green ELEMENT project is officially completed, its resources live on. Trainers, educators, and SME leaders can continue to benefit from the open-access tools and learning materials developed throughout the project.

👉 For more information — and to access the full set of deliverables, tools, and learning content — please visit: www.green-element.eu