Developing and Embedding Enterprise Competencies: A Pedagogical Framework for Creative Entrepreneurship Education

Enterprise education is vital for developing entrepreneurial capabilities in the creative industries, yet existing frameworks such as EntreComp do not fully address the distinctive needs of creative entrepreneurs, including portfolio careers, high neurodiversity, and the role of identity and reflexive practice. This study presents the development and implementation of the LCF Enterprise Competencies, a practice-led pedagogical framework designed to embed enterprise education across creative curricula. Using a multi-stage approach, the research benchmarked national and international best practice, mapped internal provision across 313 LCF units, co-created competencies with stakeholders, and iteratively evaluated their impact in teaching and learning contexts.

The resulting framework comprises 52 competencies organised into eight categories, including Creativity and Innovation, Leadership and Management, and Personal and Professional Development. These are visualised in a non-linear, star-shaped model to support flexible, modular learning trajectories. Findings indicate that core competencies such as reflective practice, collaboration, financial literacy, and creative problem-solving are most frequently required. This provides curriculum design guidance for enterprise educators. The framework’s adaptability allows alignment with diverse units, assessment strategies, and student cohorts, while evaluation using mixed methods, including frequency analysis and qualitative student feedback, to demonstrate tangible and intangible impacts on learner confidence, capability, and enterprise skill development.

This project contributes an empirically grounded, adaptable model for creative enterprise education, offering guidance for curriculum design and pedagogical practice. Future work includes producing a guidebook for educators, adapting the framework for other creative disciplines, and translating practice-led insights into peer-reviewed scholarly outputs. The study highlights the potential of structured, evidence-informed frameworks to enhance creative enterprise pedagogy in the UK and internationally.