Data analysis
In the current study, the amount of missing data was high (72.3%). Jakobsen et al. (Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS 28.0. First, SMEs’ and respondents’ characteristics were examined relying on descriptive statistics. Second, a dropout analysis was conducted comparing the dropout group to the group of respondents participating at baseline and follow-up on a range of variables by using independent sample t-tests and chi-square tests. Cohen’s d or phi coefficients were calculated as an indicator of effect sizes.Third, to examine whether the intervention had an impact on the long-term outcomes, a repeated measures ANOVA was conducted on the seven scale scores with Time (baseline vs. follow-up) being entered as a within-subjects factor and with Sector (construction vs. health vs. ICT), Leadership Role (low vs. medium vs. large leadership role) and Country (Albania vs. Finland vs. Germany vs. Hungary vs. Kosovo vs. the Netherlands vs. Spain) being entered as three between-subjects factors.