Green Skills for Entrepreneurship // GS4E
Green Skills 4 Entrepreneurship (GS4E): Green Competences for Sustainable Business Development
The Erasmus+ project Green Skills 4 Entrepreneurship (GS4E) addresses a central challenge of the EU: the transition to a sustainable and circular economy. The aim is to equip entrepreneurs with targeted competences that enable them to develop and implement green business ideas.Green Skills for Entrepreneurship – Entrepreneurial Skills for a Greener and Circular Economy
What is it about?
GS4E pursues four core objectives:
- Promoting green business management through sustainable business models.
- Imparting essential skills in planning, management, marketing, and sustainability.
- Creating networks between entrepreneurs, business experts, and other stakeholders.
- Raising awareness about the economic and social potential of green entrepreneurship.
Results & Tools
- Good Practice HandbookA collection of successful examples from across Europe on sustainable business management. The guide supports entrepreneurs with practical recommendations and inspiration.Download the GS4E Good Practice Handbook (PDF)
- Green Business Podcast SeriesIn this podcast series, founders and experts present best practices and share their experiences in planning, financing, and environmental strategies.Listen on Spotify
- Sustainability Skills Assessment ToolAn online tool for self-assessing your own sustainability competences and identifying areas for further development.Try the Assessment Tool
Project Progress & Partners
- The second project meeting took place in Patras, Greece, from 29–31 July 2024. In addition to presenting research findings, the first steps for podcast production were initiated.
- The project is coordinated by Associação Form2you (Portugal), with support from the Akademie für Politische Bildung und demokratiefördernde Maßnahmen (Linz, Austria) and Synergy European (Patras, Greece).
- GS4E is funded under the Erasmus+ KA210 programme (Project No. 2023-2-PT01-KA210-ADU-000179632).
Why is GS4E relevant for EPALE?
- Practice-oriented learning: Entrepreneurs receive concrete methods for developing and implementing sustainable business models.
- Innovative learning formats: Podcasts and interactive tools promote informal and self-directed learning.
- Network building: Transnational cooperation fosters a European network for green entrepreneurship.
Outlook
With the Good Practice Handbook already published, podcast production underway, and the assessment tool in development, GS4E is on a promising path. Through the EPALE community, we aim to:
- Inspire entrepreneurs in adult education,
- Introduce new teaching formats to trainers,
- Motivate stakeholders to collaborate and scale up.
How can interested parties get involved?
- Download the Good Practice Handbook – available via the project website.
- Follow the podcast series, ask questions, or contribute your own experiences.
- Use the assessment tool to reflect on and expand your sustainability competences.
- Become a network partner – founders, educators, and institutions are welcome to connect.
The GS4E project is a valuable contribution to strengthening green entrepreneurship education in Europe. With hands-on resources, innovative tools, and active networking, GS4E creates ideal conditions to support sustainable business initiatives and promote the circular economy – a model that can also be shared and scaled within adult education through EPALE.
I find the GS4E project…
I find the GS4E project incredibly relevant and timely. As we all work toward a greener, more sustainable future, it’s clear that we need to equip entrepreneurs—not just with business know-how, but with green competences that can make real impact. What I appreciate most about this project is its practical approach: from the Good Practice Handbook to the Sustainability Skills Assessment Tool, everything is designed to be applied directly in real-life business contexts.
The podcast format is a great touch—it makes learning more accessible and relatable, especially for adult learners who prefer informal, self-directed learning. I also see a lot of potential in the networking aspect. Connecting entrepreneurs, educators, and experts across Europe creates a space where ideas can grow and collaborations can flourish.
This is exactly the kind of project that shows how adult education can drive not just personal development, but social and environmental change. I’m excited to explore the tools and would love to see more stories from entrepreneurs who are already putting green skills into practice