Business sans frontières

Photo : D.R.

Whether they be managers, artisans, young graduates or unemployed, every year, thousands of Europeans want to set up their own business and become their own boss. While it is true that setting up a business requires ideas, willpower and energy, a certain savoir-faire and knowledge of management and how to manage resources both in terms of staff and equipment are also necessary. Once a business is set up, it must indeed be able to be competitive, acquire new markets, be innovative, establish a trusting relationship with commercial partners, create customer loyalty and attract a new clientele, even become international to optimise its chances of success. So many challenges face new entrepreneurs and very often they find themselves facing them alone and lacking in experience to make the best choices to guarantee the success of their business.
It is to optimise the chances of success of these young entrepreneurs that
the European Commission is launching an Erasmus programme for Young Entrepreneurs this year aimed at Europeans wishing to set up a new business or who have a business less than three years old. By participating in this programme, new entrepreneurs will have the possibility to join an SME from another European Union country to work for an agreed period (between one and six months) alongside an experienced business manager. Naturally, the choice of this company will correspond with the needs of the new entrepreneur and is carried out with the help of intermediary organisations (IO), such as chambers of commerce and industry and other organisations specialising in helping create new businesses. Around one hundred intermediary organisations have been selected by the European Commission through the European Union of 27 countries to put young entrepreneurs and experienced entrepreneurs in touch, so that they can guide and assist throughout the duration of this professional experience and to guarantee the quality of the exchanges. The activities of the IOs are coordinated at a European level by Eurochambres, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which acts as the programme’s support office.
With this programme, young entrepreneurs will be able to develop their knowledge and skills regarding business strategy, financial management and management. They will have the chance to find out more about European commercial law, the way the single market works, and also everything related to European regulations and support services granted to SMEs.
More than a varied and multi-purpose apprenticeship, this new programme offers each new entrepreneur a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes at a European SME and to acquire a global view of what is known as business spirit.
Participating in the Erasmus programme for Young Entrepreneurs is also the ideal way to discover a different culture and environment from the country of origin, to create a European or even international professional network and to form relationships with potential partners abroad.
On the part of the experienced entrepreneur, the benefits are also numerous. The arrival of a young dynamic entrepreneur allows a business manager access to new knowledge and innovative techniques, to become part of the network of the host entrepreneurs participating in the programme, and to increase their contacts in this way throughout the whole of Europe. The experienced entrepreneur will also benefit from priority support from intermediate organisations that will guide them in their search for potential partners throughout the EU.
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is the very first exchange programme for entrepreneurs. It was launched on 19th February and promises to be as great a success as the Erasmus programme for students. 870 exchanges are planned between 2009 and 2010. To participate, experienced and new entrepreneurs can enrol until 31st December on the official site www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu.

The programme in practice
– Enrolment online before 31st December 2009 on the official site: www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu
– Duration: 1 to 6 months with the possibility of splitting the training into several periods of 1 week
– The young entrepreneurs receive a grant financed by the European Commission to cover travel and accommodation expenses.
– Information: www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu; e-mail: support@erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu; tel.: +32.(0)2.282.08.73