European portal for SMEs

Promoting entrepreneurship

Small firms depend on entrepreneurs – the individuals who have the ideas and are willing to take the risks necessary to get a firm off the ground. Europe needs more entrepreneurs, and so the Commission is looking at ways in which potential entrepreneurs may be encouraged to set up firms.

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First, there are cultural factors in Europe which discourage too many people from starting a business, and so we need to develop a more entrepreneurial culture, starting in schools. Also there is too often a stigma attached to failure and so those who have tried unsuccessfully to get a business going fear they will be disadvantaged in future. Second, the administrative requirements – ‘red tape’ – involved in setting up and running a small firm are often a major factor in putting entrepreneurs off. Third, entrepreneurs need to find it easier to attract investors to support their ideas.

Changing many of these factors requires shifts in attitudes across society. The Commission is working with Member States, in particular by facilitating the sharing of experiences and tools which have proven to work in fostering entrepreneurial attitudes, for example in encouraging greater development of ‘mini companies’ in schools, firms run by pupils to give them experience of business. Close co-operation between the Commission and Member States is also helping to make the business environment friendlier, both for existing SMEs and for any prospective entrepreneur wishing to start a firm.

Certain groups in society, for example women, people from ethnic minorities and young people, face additional difficulties in trying to set up and run businesses, and so special attention is given to helping overcome these. Other forms of enterprise, such as the co-operative, can play a significant role in economic growth, while firms such as craft enterprises can face specific problems related to their activities, and so the Commission ensures that appropriate measures are taken to avoid such enterprises facing particular disadvantage in Europe’s marketplace.

European SME week

The European Commission organised the first European SME week from 6 to 14 May 2009 to inform SMEs about available support at EU and national level and to encourage more people to become entrepreneurs. The SME week was launched in Brussels on 6 May but the vast majority of events during the week took place across Europe in the Member States. Read here about the highlights of the first European SME week and follow plans for the 2010 European SME Week.
Website http://www.european-sme-week.eu
Page available: BG | CS | DA | DE | EL | EN | ES | ET | FI | FR | HU | IT | LT | LV | NL | PL | PT | RO | SK | SL | SV

European Enterprise Awards

A showcase of the best and most inspirational examples of entrepreneurial policies and practices at regional level. The awards aim to identify and recognise successful activities and initiatives undertaken to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship; create stronger awareness of the role entrepreneurs play in society; and encourage and inspire potential entrepreneurs. View the winners of 2008/2009 and previous years here.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/best-practices/european-enterprise-awards/index_en.htm
Page available: CS | DA | DE | EL | EN | ES | ET | FI | FR | GA | HU | IT | LT | LV | MT | NL | PL | PT | SK | SL | SV

A Charter to support Europe’s small firms

The European Union and its Member States agreed on the European Charter for Small Enterprises in 2000 to underline their shared commitment to act to improve the business environment, making it easier for small firms to start out and grow. The Charter has now been replaced by the Small Business Act for Europe, which incorporates and builds on its principles.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/best-practices/charter/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Survey on Entrepreneurship

This survey aims at a better understanding of entrepreneurship, by identifying what is fuelling entrepreneurial mindsets, what encourages people to become entrepreneurs and which obstacles exist. The results of the 2007 survey, which for the first time covers 28 countries, will help the Commission shape its policy-making.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/eurobarometer/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Training tomorrow’s entrepreneurs

Exposure to entrepreneurial attitudes and environment from an early age is vital in encouraging more young people to opt for such careers. This page shows the efforts the Commission is making to encourage Member States to integrate entrepreneurship into curricula at all levels of education.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/education-training-entrepreneurship/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Easier start to a company

Starting a firm is a big step, and the administrative requirements may put some people off. The Commission has pushed Member States to simplify their procedures, to speed up and reduce the costs of company start-up, and so encourage more entrepreneurs to take their first steps in business.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/business-environment/start-up-procedures/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Erasmus for young entrepreneurs

The pilot project ‘ERASMUS for young entrepreneurs’ will facilitate training, networking and exchange of experiences among European entrepreneurs. Young entrepreneurs will learn from existing entrepreneurs in another country. This action will contribute to promote entrepreneurship, internationalisation and competitiveness of established SMEs and new start-up enterprises in the EU.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/erasmus-entrepreneurs/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Recruiting a first employee

If a company is to grow from the founder's one-person business, it has to take on employees. The administrative steps involved in becoming an employer can be a major barrier to company growth. The Commission is working to help Member States simplify procedures and make it easier for small firms to grow.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/business-environment/first-employee/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Encouraging women entrepreneurs

Women represent a major pool of potential entrepreneurs across Europe, but there a number of specific barriers which means they are under- represented in the field. This page outlines the Commission's efforts to identify and remove these barriers to encourage more women to opt for entrepreneurial careers.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/women/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Opening doors to migrants and ethnic minority groups

Migrants and people from ethnic minorities face particular difficulties in setting up and running businesses. The Commission has sought to identify the reasons for this and encourage Member States to work to make it easier for budding entrepreneurs from different ethnic backgrounds.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/migrants-ethnic-minorities/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Crafts and small businesses

Crafts and small businesses represent a huge share of European jobs, yet because of their small size these firms often struggle. The Commission therefore places particular emphasis on ensuring that such firms are not over-burdened with red tape and that policy-makers take account of their needs.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/crafts-micro-enterprises/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Social economy enterprises

Not all enterprises are set up principally to make a profit for their owners. A range of forms of 'social economy enterprise' such as co-operatives or mutual societies are active across Europe's economy. The Commission aims to ensure that policies do not discriminate between different types of enterprises, and that policy-makers recognise the importance of the social economy.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/social-economy/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Smooth transfer

Too many businesses simply close when the founder retires or decides to move onto other things, losing jobs, money and expertise. Member States need to make it simpler to transfer such firms to new owners, so that their value can be increased not dissipated.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/business-environment/smooth-transfer/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Failure is not the end

Bankruptcy is widely seen as failure, and an entrepeneur whose business venture has not succeeded is too often stigmatised. An entrepreneurial culture needs to recognise that such failures are inevitable in some cases, and that entrepreneurs who have come through them can learn from them, and rebuild a better business next time round.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/business-environment/failure-new-beginning/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Audiovisual media - promoting entrepreneurship

The audiovisual media - television, radio and film, along with internet and new media - are most effective at reaching large numbers of people. The European Commission is seeking to identify methods by which these media can be harnessed to promote entrepreneurship across the European population.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/audiovisual-media/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

Family Business

Family Businesses constitute a substantial part of the existing European companies and have a significant role to play in the strength and dynamism of the European economy. The European Commission has undertaken some specific actions to study the need for and the shape of possible future policy initiatives in favour of family business, especially small and medium enterprises – read more here.
Website http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/family-business/index_en.htm
Page available: EN

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