CONTEXT BACKGROUND: STEPS (Smooth Transition to Professional Skills and Employability from School & VET project emerges from the confluence of the need to promote employability and professional skills of young people, a fact that both the European figures prove it, but also the daily work of COCIN in this area, and on the other, needs identified by San Juan Bautista school and VET teachers and students regarding Employability Guidance from School and VET (see part D of this form and further detailed in attached PDF) A Networking event organised by COCIN on February 25, 2014 within WELCOME & CO transfer of innovation project (2OI2-L-ES1-LEO05-49461), where educational institutions were main target group/attendees allowed first contact with that shown needs. STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP is conformed on the basis of every partner's potential, as each brings specific expertise in the European context that STEPS project requires. It is formed by Cámara de Comercio, Industria y Navegación de Cantabria (ES), project coordinator applicant. Unione Regionale delle Camere di Commercio,I.A.A. Veneto (IT). We already work together in the European Program EYE (www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu) as well as in WELCOME & CO. Cornwall College (UK) and BERLINK (DE), also partners in WELCOME&CO contribute with the educational and business approach respectively. As new partners: Colegio San Juan Baustista (ES) and ZIB–Zentrum für Integration und Bildung GmbH (DE) as educational institutions and BEN EUROPE-Institute Qualification & Project Management UG brings its business approach.Consejería de Educación de Cantabria will be a "silent partner" that will provide its local VET support. STEPS MAIN GOAL is to promote a European vision of business and career and employability information and guidance in order to prepare students from school and VET for a smooth transition into the labour market. SPECIFIC AIMS: To find out main challenges faced by teachers, students and businesses for a smooth transition into work in a European context; To promote a better understanding of the labour market in the European context, by making teachers and students actively participate in the project in the partners’ regions; To inform teachers and students about career guidance resources and tools already available in the European context; To make students and teachers aware of the importance of ITC and linguistic skills, specially English. ACTIVITIES: Apart from the preparation and managerial activities, to achieve these objectives, the project will transfer IT tools, methodology, managerial know-how and materials developed to reach the following OUTPUTS:O1: Database system design: VET learners, teachers and companies in each partner region; O2: Online Platform for Training & Employment Information & Guidance in School & VET; O3: Info Point Set-up & Implementation: Information and Guidance on Employment and Training resources in Europe in School & VET; O4: Compilation of good practices in Career and Employment guidance in School & VET; O5: Training Career and Employability Guidance material; O6: Competition of Proposals made by students, coordinated by teachers:“My career pathway: Ideas of a better future for young people in the labour market"; O7: Compilation of Entrepreneurship tools and resources from School & VET in each partner's region; O8: Pilot action "The makings for entrepreneurship"; 09. Business Talks and in situ visits to companies;10. Blog in English on topic "The labour market in the EU”, written by and for students, teachers and staff involved in entrepreneurial and employability guidance issues. Blended mobilities and an Open Day on Employability Guidance will be also implemented. METHOGOLOGY used to reach activities and results is divided into three different phases: Preparation/planning; Implementation and follow-up of activities; Closure & sustainability. The cooperative methodology that will be shared by the strategic partnership will be one of the contributions of the project. IMPACT: The project, by its nature and purpose of work, only makes sense in a European framework basis: It will provide a more complete picture of the needs in School and VET Employability Information & Guidance in European regions. It will contribute to the creation of a joint action including the most interesting strengths and resources of each region for helping students to their smooth transition into work, by making them aware of the opportunities Europe offers and contributing to their linguistic and ICT skills improvement. It will contribute to cooperation and network between educational institutions by promoting the impact on beneficiaries with different legislative, educational environments and socio- economic backgrounds. POTENTIAL LONG TERM BENEFITS: Future cooperation between the participating partners and related school and VET providers/ stakeholders in their countries at local, regional and/or national level will give a great European added value.