Utolo

Utolo is an approach developed by social, academic and research partners across North West Europe to (re)connect vulnerable young people to education, employment and training through the development of entrepreneurial skills. This approach combines personal coaching with tailored digital support and local resources.

The Utolo approach is based on a coaching process between young people and coaches.

Through a relationship of trust and respect with their coaches, young people are empowered to become entrepreneurial, gaining control of their life. With the help of the coach, they set up and follow a plan of action to reach their personal goals. The young person always remains responsible for the progress of the coaching process.

The Utolo concept suggests six coaching phases that are closely related to selected entrepreneurial skills from the EU EntreComp framework. It introduces an adapted business model ‘canvas’, ‘timeline’ and ‘portfolio’ as effective tools for the coaching process. It also suggests making active use of local networks, communities and support schemes. The approach has been developed through a co-design methodology and extensively tested by a diverse group of partners within the NWE project Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurial Skills (EYES).

The innovative edge of the Utolo approach is the integration of the new Utolo app within the overall coaching process. This app offers interactive elements for a hybrid coaching process (Canvas, Timeline, Portfolio) and connects to local support schemes and resources (My Area).

Thanks to its modular structure, the Utolo app can be used in a flexible way, allowing organizations/coaches to activate the components they need.

The digital Canvas, Timeline and Portfolio support the offline coaching activities – especially between face-to-face meetings – adding a new, interactive dimension to the coaching process.

‘My Area’ provides young people with an overview of relevant local resources and opportunities of which they can make active use during the coaching process. ‘My Area’ also offers a good opportunity to turn local partners into active stakeholders of the Utolo approach. Individual organisations are able to curate and amend content on a regular basis.

The Utolo app can be downloaded for iOS or Android. Young people always need a personal invitation from their coach to register. In order to utilise the potential of the Utolo app safely, coaching organisations follow the Utolo approach and guide their connected young people through the process. A handy manual describes all the features and the working method of the Utolo approach.

The app can be used safely; it has been verified by legal experts to be compliant with EU and UK data protection laws.

To be able to use Utolo, an organization becomes part of the Utolo innovation network. Participating organizations have to adhere to Utolo's terms of use and appoint a local Utolo administrator to manage local content and add coaches to the App data base.

As a member of the Utolo network, your organization, coaches and above all, the young people you support, will benefit from all of the advantages of the Utolo approach.