Gain Creators / Outcomes

The programme matches experienced entrepreneurs with new ones in order to create:

• An exchange of knowledge and experience between well established and new entrepreneurs. This way, the new entrepreneurs acquire the necessary knowledge, entrepreneurial and business skills to start their own businesses.
• Networking opportunities in other regions/countries. Both entrepreneurs have the opportunity to develop their professional networks in other countries as well as their knowledge of other markets which will help them developing their business in foreign markets.
• Entrepreneurial attitude. The programme participates in developing entrepreneurial attitude. It can be seen as a complementary work-based entrepreneurship education. Linking new with well-established entrepreneurs is also a way to make entrepreneurship more accessible and help fighting false ideas on entrepreneurship (too risky, etc.).

Gains / Needs

• Reinforcement of the entrepreneurial attitude
• New businesses and jobs
• Development of cross-border entrepreneurship
• A more positive and accessible image of entrepreneurship

Target Group

Policy makers

Any states interested in facilitating the development of entrepreneurship through exchanges between well-established and new entrepreneurs

Implementation Method

• To communicate about the programme, the development of a media kit, the participation of managers of the programme to events/fairs addressed to entrepreneurs would be useful. The programme can also be presented in business schools to students who may be later interested in starting their business.
• Partnerships between business schools/universities and businesses can play a role in linking students interested in joining the programme to already established entrepreneurs.
• Organisation of trainings of staff of the intermediary organisations.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is a cross-border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other Participating Countries. The exchange of experience takes place during a stay with the experienced entrepreneur, which helps the new entrepreneur acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The host benefits from fresh perspectives on his/her business and gets the opportunities to cooperate with foreign partners or learn about new markets. The stay is partially funded by the European Union.

Website of the programme: http://www.erasmus-entrepreneurs.eu/

This programme constitutes a good practice that could be implemented at a smaller scale (national level between entrepreneurs of different regions of the same country, bilateral programmes between two countries, or a programme within a cross-border European region).

Activities

Train staff of intermediary organisations (chambers of commerce, incubators, start-up centres) to support the programme and match host entrepreneurs with new ones.

Resources

• Human resources: Intermediary organisations such as chambers of commerce, incubators, start-up centres, with the necessary staff to be involved in the programme and match host entrepreneurs with new entrepreneurs. A central support office to manage and coordinate the programme.
• Financial resources: for the coordination of the programme and the partial funding of the stay of the entrepreneurs by the host entrepreneurs. EYE is funded by the European Commission (DG Grow). To develop and manage such a programme at a smaller scale (national or small scale multinational level), funds may be provided by the states involved.

Pain Relievers / Solutions

The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme addresses these difficulties by providing:

• On-the-job-training for new entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to facilitate a successful start and development of their business ideas.
• Exchanges of experience and information between entrepreneurs on obstacles and challenges to starting up and developing their businesses.
• To enhance market access and identification of potential partners for new and established businesses in other countries.
• Networking by building on knowledge and experience from other entrepreneurs from other regions or countries.
• A sort of complementary work-based entrepreneurship education for young entrepreneurs.

Pains / Challenges

Many countries understood that a possible response to unemployment was to foster entrepreneurship to create self-employment and new jobs.
However, new entrepreneurs sometimes face difficulties in starting their businesses. They have the ideas but lack the knowledge, and the business and entrepreneurship skills to get started.