Momentum is a VET education organisation focused on developing progressive learning programmes and platforms with special focus on sustainability and entrepreneurship. We have experience and capacity in delivering entrepreneurship training for hard-to-reach groups including NEETs, those most distant from the labour market and those who work with them (VET trainers, enterprise centres).
Our work in building sustainable green communities began in 2012 when we led the establishment of the ACCELERATE GREEN HUB in Roscommon as a business incubation programme to enable 10 green projects to receive support in their communities and linking them with high level experience and knowledge. Momentum co-ordinated the programme with projects emerging in Renewable energy, Waste management, Eco-tourism, Habitat conservation and organic food processing.
Our pedagogic specialisms are blended learning and professional development training in the green economy, eco innovation, rural economy regeneration, internationalisation and competitiveness. Momentum’s specific competencies lie in the design and delivery of innovative programmes including vocational education in the classroom, mentoring and web-enabled distance learning techniques, specifically webinars and e-learning environments.
In Circular Creatives, we will lead the Zero waste Marketplace Guide which will be designed to facilitate the creation of ‘zero waste’ marketplaces for creative sector entrepreneurs that have progressed to circular business models.
CeKaTe is a public socio-cultural institution founded by the City of Zagreb. It is a non-profit, transparent, and democratic decision making cultural institution that has a mandate to develop and implement local and international community beneficial programmes primarily (but not exclusively) in fields culture, arts and (non-)formal education. Those activities are planned by the Council of Experts and include performative, visual, musical arts performances, workshops and exhibitions as well as public lectures, debates, forums, workshops of (non-)formal education and many other programmes for all ages and social groups.
The main task of Programme department is to develop programmes at local and international level in 8 main areas:
CeKaTe is also known to implement open-air cultural and heritage events for the local community.
https://cekate.hr/program/circular-creatives/
Recently opened in Roscommon town, West of Ireland, Rummage loves to share with you their passion for the past. They sell antique, vintage and retro furniture, household and whatever else they can find! Rummage also offers a furniture upcycling service with the aim of saving that piece which may otherwise be heading for timber heaven!
Short profile of their background and motivation to start a business
Catia da Nova, a native of Brazil moved to Roscommon, Ireland in March 2001 with a group of friends. Catia has worked in a variety of different disciplines before deciding with her partner Ray to set up their new business in Roscommon town. The motivation underpinning their decision is a passion and love for antique, vintage and retro furniture combined with the prospect of achieving a better work-life balance for their family
When did you first realise that you wanted to start up a business?
Catia explains “It wasn’t overnight, I felt that I had to have a good understanding of English and be somewhat integrated in society. We always had an interest in furniture, antiques and upcycling. We renovated much of our home ourselves with such items. About 5 years ago really started to brainstorm the prospect of starting our own business”
How did you test your business idea?
“We always knew there was demand for such products and we completed various small jobs for friends in our spare time. I volunteered in a local charity shop for a period of time, which gave me a great opportunity to gain essential retail experience.
What market research did you undertake?
“I carried out various types of market research including exploring online resources and looking at similar shop models particularly in England. Social media was useful too and chatting to other stakeholders and people with similar interests. We explored the market further and recognized there was a gap in the market for this type of a shop in the region and especially in Roscommon. We wanted to offer consumers a broad range of quality products at affordable prices. We also noticed that people wanted to release new life to their own furniture, much of which had been in their families’ possession for a long time. We often find that much of the older furniture is of superior quality and very durable”.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during the start-up period
“There were various challenges but we were determined to overcome them. Financing is always a difficult step when starting a business but for us securing a broad range of stock requires constant engagement with various contacts, as there is no definitive one-stop supplier for our varying product range. In terms of the financing required for the initial start-up, we were fortunate enough to have put aside some money to fund the new venture. Other challenges we faced which are also experienced by many other new businesses is getting your name out there and establishing your presence in the town”.
Did you avail of any Government funded supports locally?
“Yes we availed of supports provided by Roscommon LEADER Partnership and participated in Social Media courses provided by the Local Enterprise Office”.
In addition to having your business premises in Roscommon town, do you engage in online sales?
“Yes we sell products through Facebook and we are starting to use Instagram recently too. Word of mouth and customer satisfaction is also two important areas we feel for the business”
How do you define business success?
“We tend to measure business success across various factors such as customer satisfaction, experience, word of mouth and the fact that many people travel relatively long distances to view their product range.
What other challenges has the business experienced since start-up?
“The coronavirus pandemic has definitely been the biggest challenge to date. Like many other businesses, we have had to reinvent the way we do business overnight. This included monitoring stock levels more closely while trying to move sales fully online during lockdown periods. However, aside from the pandemic, the ongoing challenge is competing with online market places where often times, individual routine sellers achieve sales without incurring traditional business costs such as rent, rates etc. However it’s good to see Revenue watchdogs starting to troll these online marketplaces and target these mass sellers”.
Are you part of any business Network?
“We are not affiliated to any of these networks be we are aware of their existence. For us networking tends to be about building relationships with suppliers and maintaining positive working relationships with local businesses other similar providers. However, I hope to join the local women’s network in the future”.
Did you encounter any difficulties when accessing finance to start-up?
“No, and thankfully we had some money putting aside and once we acquired a premises, we carried out much of the shop fit-out ourselves which saved us some money too”.
What advice would you give to female migrants wishing to start up a business?
“Do not give up, do the market research and know inside out, the product/service you are offering”.
Would you like to see more supports been developed such as tailored business training for new communities in Ireland?
“Yes that would be a huge help especially supports for female migrant entrepreneurs. Many migrants and refugees come to Ireland with a talented skill-set and it would be great to support these with their potential business ideas”.
How else can the various enterprise support providers help migrants and those in our new communities to start their own businesses?
“Increase the accessibility and awareness of supports for new communities and more targeted offerings”.
What are your plan for the business in the future?
“We would really like to expand the business in the future as we are seeing increased demand for our products and services. With remote working in play, people are now more aware of their home surroundings and many are looking to buck the trend with different and unique home contents”.
If you had to do it all over again, what would you change with your business model?
“We wouldn’t change a thing, thankfully the research paid off and we saw a gap in the market for our business. We hope to expand and explore new markets in the future. Overall, we have a passion and love for our business with a good work-life balance”.
It’s no secret that COVID-19 and national lockdowns had a dramatic effect on employment for many. However, they hit the cultural and creative industries particularly hard, with a total of 10 million jobs lost in these sectors worldwide in 2020, according to a new report from UNESCO.
This had an impact not only on individuals, but also on the wider economy, wiping $750 billion off the value of the global cultural and creative industries, the Reshaping Policies for Creativity report notes.
The job losses catalyzed a drive to digital that had already been happening before 2020. “Many artists and cultural professionals seized the opportunity of the rise in niche streaming services to develop innovative projects in the digital sphere,” the report says.
However, digital revenues failed to make up for the decline in live events caused by the pandemic, it adds. In the music sector, where live shows are a key part of artists’ income, the dominance of digital means the division of revenues among creators, producers and distributors “remains highly unequal”, the report says.
“People’s global access to, and reliance on, cultural content has increased, however, at the same time, those who produce arts and culture find it increasingly difficult to work,” says UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone. “We need to rethink how we build a sustainable and inclusive working environment for cultural and artistic professionals who play a vital role for society, the world over.”
It appears evident there has been no greater time for creative industries to adapt and reshape how and what they create in line with the sustainable and environmental goals, as an opportunity to explore new avenues of revenue and success. Empowering creatives in circular economy project aims to produce resources and tools to help achieve such goals!
For more information on how the pandemic impacted creatives, follow link to reference:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/creatives-job-losses-covid-employment/
The European E-learning Institute (EUEI) is committed to providing high-quality learning experiences and innovative educational programmes which engage learners from a range of sectors and socio-economic backgrounds. EUEI is committed to promoting social cohesion, inclusion, and sustainability across Europe, making them a perfect fit for the Creative Invisibles Project.
Our experienced team of trainers, researchers and technical experts are uniquely placed to guide educators from VET, HEI, Adult and Youth sectors to harness the opportunities that innovative and collaborative e-learning and digital tools offer for learners.
We specialise in the delivering of high quality, responsive and innovative projects to educators and learners in the topics of pedagogic approaches, entrepreneurial competences, digital skills, inclusion, and sustainability.
Meet our team at EUEI working on the ECCE project
Canice Hamill- Managing Director
Canice has worked in the field of lifelong education for over 20 years and is recognised as an expert in instructional design and the development of e-learning solutions for education and training. A former trainer and lecturer, Canice utilises a holistic approach to creating innovative, interactive learning environments and works closely with tutors, trainers, and development teams, emphasising the importance of empathy and user experience in every learning solution.
Our Logician -Innovative Inventors with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge
Catherine Neill- European Project Manager
An experienced EU project manager, Catherine is an integral member of our team. She is an effective communicator and has a strong background in areas of Inclusion. The oldest of 5 children Catherine quickly learned how to lead the pack, utilising organisational skills alongside her passion for helping others, she is committed to making the world a more accessible, sustainable, and friendly place.
Our Protagonist -Charismatic and inspiring leaders, able to mesmerise their listeners.
Aine Hamill- European Project Officer
Aine plays an important role in the learning design and subsequently in evaluating the effectiveness of our eLearning products on completion. Aine is always keen to engage with her creative side and implement the newest digital tools, pedagogies, and trends into our e-learning solutions. She is passionate about finding effective and relevant ways to engage learners from all walks of life.
Our Defender-dedicated and warm protectors, able to implement ideas and “create order from chaos”.
Including our key role in the initiation of the Circular Creatives project we will also work tirelessly alongside our project partners to deliver the highest quality project results as possible. Within the project EUEI will develop the project website and be responsible for the technical realisation of the materials.
Learn more about EUEI here:www.euei.dk
