Supporting Talent to Employment Programme
Leonardo is the European Social Fund (ESF) funded lifelong learning programme which supports the development of skills and training. It funds work placements for trainees, workers and staff, and supports European projects to discuss common issues or develop training materials, courses and frameworks. Leonardo is part of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme.
Ecotec is the UK National Agency for Leonardo. This means that it manages the Leonardo grants available to UK organisations and individuals. Ecotec specialises in economic and social development. It has a 25-year track record of providing services in a range of policy areas, including learning and skills and equality and diversity, from its regional offices in the UK and in Europe.
WAC Performing Arts and Media College is based in the UK and is the lead partner for the STEP project which has seven partners from Spain, Greece, Holland, Italy and the UK. WAC has been working for more than 30 years in developing opportunities for young people in the creative arts field.
Supporting Talent to Employment Programme (STEP) has the goal of developing a common European framework of competences for mentors and support workers in the non-formal learning sector. STEP operates in the creative industries, including music, drama, visual arts, media production and design.
STEP works with organisations that utilise informal learning, delivered through artistic and cultural expression, to provide vocational support to disadvantaged and disaffected young people.