The Circular Economy Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme

The Circular Economy Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme is designed for practitioners from Business Support Organisations (BSOs) in EU partner countries seeking to strengthen circular economy knowledge and application within their organisations and business networks.

Implemented by Enabel and Circle Economy Foundation under the European Circular Economy Resource Centre (EU CERC) Business Lab, the programme draws on European and international expertise while responding to the needs and realities of local business ecosystems.

Participants may either:

• Work directly with businesses and MSMEs to support the development and implementation of circular economy strategies and business models; or
• Focus on strengthening internal organisational capacity to deliver training, facilitate learning, and cascade circular economy knowledge across their networks.

The programme combines online training, expert insights from European circular economy initiatives, peer learning, practical tools, case studies, and follow-up support through webinars and Communities of Practice.

Who should apply

BSOs and similar ecosystem actors that support businesses/MSMEs; and want to strengthen their circular economy services, internal knowledge, or capacity to accompany businesses in the circular transition. Examples of eligible organisations: Incubators, accelerators, entrepreneurship support organisations, chambers of commerce, innovation or tech hubs, universities, research centres, cluster organisations and sector associations, ect.

What participants will gain

Selected participants will:

• Build a strong understanding of circular economy principles and sector-specific applications;
• Develop either a business-focused support programme or an internal capacity-building plan, depending on their chosen pathway;
• Gain access to practical tools, methods, and frameworks to help businesses identify and implement circular opportunities;
• Strengthen their ability to deliver, replicate, and cascade circular economy knowledge within their organisations and networks;
• Exchange experiences and learn from peers across the region;
• Receive continued support through follow-up webinars and a Community of Practice.

Programme Structure

The programme will include:

• An online orientation session and preparatory activities;
• Two consecutive online training days;
• Follow-up support sessions over the subsequent months.

Participants will be assigned to one of two pathways:

Practitioner – Business Pathway

Designed for organisations seeking to support businesses and MSMEs in developing and applying circular economy business models and identifying practical circular opportunities.

Internal Hub Capacity Pathway

Designed for organisations seeking to strengthen internal circular economy knowledge-sharing, facilitation, and training capacity, enabling them to deliver and cascade learning across their networks.

Selection Process

Interested organisations are invited to submit their Expression of Interest (EoI) through the application form provided below.

Participation is competitive, and organisations will be selected based on:

• Alignment with policy and ecosystem priorities
• Circular economy ambition and vision
• Inclusivity and stakeholder engagement
• Capacity to implement and scale
• Expected long-term ecosystem impact

Approximately 15 participants will be selected per training co-hort.

Participating organisations are encouraged to nominate two to three representatives, resulting in approximately 7-8 BSOs participating in each cohort.

Future opportunities:

Stay tuned for upcoming ToT opportunities for Business Support Organisations in Latin America, Asia, and the EU’s Eastern and Southern Neighborhood regions.

For more information, please contact: eucerc@enabel.be