CONTEXTGiven the growth that SMEs are encouraged to follow and strong public policy on the importance of digital technology, it is not surprising that business leaders are generally pro-technology. However, growing scientific evidence shows that unconstrained use of digital devices can have negative consequences for businesses in terms of productivity/performance and employees’ mental and physical health. Multitasking and the constant stream of notifications are associated with lower levels of creativity and concentration, and higher stress, while the google effect causes decreased memory efficiency. Collectively called “technostress” these issues are caused both by the technology AND by organisational expectations. The “always on” culture of checking emails at home or on holiday leads to worsened emotional states, poor work-life balance and burnout.Many large corporations are already addressing digital overload, via wellbeing policies within their HR/CSR work. In a 2018 study of 500 senior HR executives from global organisations, 70% stated that policies to promote digital wellbeing were important. A similar study, though, found that 82% of SME employers do NOT have any digital health or wellbeing policies nor plans to introduce them. Moreover, our own research showed the issue is so new that no enterprise development or business training providers currently offers structured guidance on the topic: they too are unaware and unequipped.OBJECTIVE Therefore, the objective of our project is to design, develop and implement a new approach to train European SME managers in employee digital wellbeing. In doing so we meet the needs of the following target groups:PARTICIPANTS & ACTIVITIESSME MANAGERS. Numbering hundreds of thousands in each of our countries, they need greater awareness and knowledge of this challenge and to develop the digital and entrepreneurial skills to lead change in company policy and practice.ENTREPRENEURSHIP (BUSINESS) EDUCATION PROVIDERS. They are a trusted source of training for SME managers and have ample access/geographic coverage to mainstream it, but they need knowledge of the subject matter AND suitable teaching resources. EDUCATION AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS. As policy makers and funders of subsidised training for SMEs they need greater understanding of the relevance of this topic, so as to be able to focus and design greater support for digital wellbeing competences.-SME EMPLOYEES are indirect participants and beneficiaries: thanks to the introduction of improved digital wellbeing policies and practices, they will be encouraged to strengthen their own competences regarding a balanced use of digital technology and digital self-care.RESULTSWe will produce two Outputs and the following resultsO1: Digital Wellbeing Pathway Creator. An interactive online tool enabling SME managers to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses in relation to employee digital wellbeing and to determine a suitable pathway through the subsequent learning materials (O2). 36 Business Advisors will help us test the Pathway Creator with 120 SME managers. A further 300 Advisors and SMEs will use the Pathway Creator during the project lifespan.O2: Digital Crossroads Training Programme. A complete set of learning objectives, training materials and case studies providing SME Managers and business advisors to gain the knowledge, skills and self-belief required to implement an in-company programme to prevent employee digital overload. 16 business advisors will use the Training Programme with 48 SMEs (4 each) during the project. A further 240 individuals, mostly business advisors but also stakeholders and SME managers, will download and use all or part of the OERs during the project lifespan. IMPACTWe’ve designed Digital Crossroads carefully to ensure our final goal: enabling SME managers to improve the digital wellbeing of their employees. LOCAL IMPACTSince the majority of SMEs and entrepreneurs access training and support from entrepreneurship VET providers close to home, the impact will first be felt on a LOCAL level: more businesses leaders will have the digital and entrepreneurial competences to lead change in their companies, having a positive knock on effect on employee wellbeing and productivity. Over the medium term, these benefits will become evident as improved growth and employment in the local economy. REGIONAL AND NATIONAL IMPACTAt regional and national level, the project will demonstrate the need to broaden our approach to digital skills’ competences in the SME and entrepreneurship education sectors, in line with Frameworks such as DigComp and the JISC approach.EUROPEAN IMPACTAt European level, the main contribution of the project will be to highlight the work that still is required to translate Dig Comp (and to an extent DigCompOrg) into SME training and entrepreneurship education, and to provide scalable response as to how to achieve this.