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Research Findings

 Research findings from Creative Entrepreneurs Survey 1, completed by 20 participants working in the following fields:  

  • Performing arts
  • Music Recording, Video Recording, Production, Events, Animation
  • Fashion, design
  • Social inclusion, Science
  • Retail and B2B sales
  • Vintage and upcycled furniture.
  • Hospitality industry, Marketing and tourism
  • Food blogging
  • Consulting, sustainability
  • VET education
  • Ecology

The survey initially sought to understand the Impact of the Pandemic on Creative Entrepreneurs.  Our respondents shared that:

1
None of the participants in the survey stated that their businesses were prepared for the pandemic
2
35% of their businesses was not affected by the pandemic
3
45% of participants said they could easily switch their business online
4
Only 15% of participants are neutral towards working online, the vast majority of 85% prefer working in person.
5
In terms of the effects of the pandemic on customers using services, 30% of participants stated that customers had stopped using their services or buying their products during the pandemic and they had struggled to bring them back.
6
65% of participants felt there was adequate local government assistance and financial support available to them.
7
The same proportion believed there was adequate national assistance and financial support.
8
40% of business felt there were no online workshops to help their business online.

The survey then brought circular approaches to the fore, with responses showing the stark need for projects such as Circular Creative.

  • 60% of participants stated that sustainability was an important factor for them in their work.
  • Although 50% of participants try to live in zero waste, only 35% of participants stated that they were familiar with the circular economy and incorporated it in their daily work and it showcases a lack of education surrounding the term ‘Circular energy.
  • This may be an issue highlighted by the fact that only 40% of participants re-use materials.
  • Only 35% of participants stated that they would like to have access to recourses that educate them on ways to implement the circular economy into their own enterprise which is indicative of the lack of the systematically present encouragement for circular economy principles
  • 80% of participants wanted to find new business opportunities.
  • 50% of participants in VET education saw their schools as mechanisms for ensuring a skilled workforce in circular economy and there was no circular economy platform in any school.

What was the impact of the pandemic on Creative Entrepreneurs in terms of the Circular economy?

30% of respondents felt that circular economic/sustainable practices helped them during the pandemic. They highlighted a need for greater education on circular economic practices.

Role of Vocational Education and Training

In this survey we had a very small sample of 4 VET providers, but the findings are clear and propose the need for the training proposed by Circular Creatives

  • Only half of those in the field of VET education felt that VET was a mechanism for ensuring a skilled workforce that can thrive and scale up in a circular economy due to a lack of specialist knowledge
  • None of the participants felt that their school could collaborate with industry to advance knowledge in a circular economy
  • Only half feel that their VET encourages the development of basic circular economic skills.
  • Not a single VET participant had a circular economic platform in their VET schools
  • VET respondents highlighted the need for greater support and specialised training in regard to the creation and promotion of a circular economy among businesses.
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