etf good practice inspiration series · innoomnia, omnia, the joint authority of education in espoo...

The following 12 factsheets make up a good practice series developed by the ETF to share, compare and inspire novel approaches to human capital development in its 31 partner countries. Details on the good practice contained in the factsheets are the responsibility of the organisations engaged in the examples of good practice. Information from this may be duplicated as long as the training organisation and the ETF are acknowledged as sources.

ETF GOOD PRACTICE INSPIRATION SERIES

“SUCCESSFUL START” START-UP BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAMME Anush Aslanyan SMEDNC of Armenia 5 Mher Mkrtchyan Armenia Telephone: +37410 541648 Email:[email protected] Website: www.smednc.am

TARGET GROUPS

The primary target groups are start-up entrepreneurs with a focus on women and young people.

SUMMARY DETAILS OF THE TRAINING PROJECTMeeting real needs

The training needs assessment is undertaken by way of: � surveys of existing start-ups registered in a SMEDNC database to determine gaps in knowledge and skills which could be already be addressed in a start-up training course;

� entry interviews with those signing up for a start-up course; � continuous review of needs during training programme.

The programme

“Successful Start” start-up business support programme is based on an internationally accredited training method (CEFE) which includes: � selection of participants � provision of training and support to the development of business plans � access to finance � follow-up support: coaching, group and individual consulting.

Trainees follow a six-stage cycle: � awareness: trainees are encouraged to examine who they are, clarify their own values, and evaluate their own personality, motivations to start a business, capabilities and personal resources;

� acceptance: trainees are required to recognise their strengths and weaknesses; � goal setting: trainees are prompted to clarify purpose in short and long-term goals of life; � strategy: trainees are required to define an action plan oriented to development on one’s life; � direct experience: emphasis here is on ‘doing’; structured learning experiences and encountering “real life” situations assist in building up this experience in which strategies are tested, evaluated and modi-fied;

� transformation and empowerment: competencies acquired come together to match personal strengths and weaknesses with goals.

The overall guiding principle to the start-up business support is the ownership of the process which is acquired through the time and energy that participants must invest into the highly demanding process of training and follow-up steps.

Start-up campaigns are organized through SMEDNC regional branches with involvement of CEFE certified trainers. All trainers are CEFE-certfied.

Each training course has 12 start-up trainees. Courses are also designed for start-ups for specific sectors.

IMPACTKey impact data include: � 63 training sessions since 2005. � 1100 participants trained � 250 start-ups launched � survival rate of start-ups is 67,7% exceeding national average by 25%. � 10 training sessions in launched with 135 participants of which 50% are women. � more than 70 businessmen got financial support from SMEDNC.

EVALUATION � Internal evaluation of the programme is mandated by the SMEDNC strategic planning committee; � Monitoring and evaluation is undertaken through post training surveys; � Increased intake of women trainees reflected findings and recommendations of an evaluation of the “Successful Start” Programme.

BUDGET AND SUSTAINABILITY � The budget for running one start-up business support training is approximately €3000 (12 participants). Around 10-15 courses are organized yearly.

� “Successful Start” business support programme is a part of a national SME development which provides policy and institutional support to the programme.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Efficiency: the programme borrows significantly on an already recognized international training model, creating efficiencies;

� Transfer: “Successful Start” has transferred its trainer capacity to a number of training providers across Armenia.

“HATCHUPSUT” - WOMEN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AND INCUBATORDr Amany Asfour President - Egyptian Business Women Association 14 Syria St Mohandseen Cairo. Egypt. Email: [email protected] Tel: +202 33368304 and +202 37495670 Web: www.ebwa.info

TARGET GROUPSWomen entrepreneurs: start-ups, owners of micro-businesses, SMEs, women graduates, women owners of informal enterprise, women in rural areas


Training needs are based in individual meetings with each woman, no matter what stage of the enterprise’s development (start-up, early phase, growth) or type of business (micro, small and medium).

The programme

HWBDC is a pioneering project located in Egypt. It promotes economic empowerment of women through capacity building for active participation the country’s private sector economy. This initiative contributes to job creation, economic empowerment of women and promotion of the entrepreneurial culture in Egypt.The programme focuses on women in medium and low socio-economic status class, in urban and rural areas working in the informal sector and who have no means to sponsor. The programme ensures: � economic empowerment of women to be financially independent, to have the power of choice and voice; � cater for the job creation opportunities and builds the capacity for target groups (1,000 women including university graduates);

� market access to the Egyptian SMEs owned by women � contribution to economic growth and alleviation of poverty through support of women in informal sector and owners of micro- and small enterprises;

� lobbying and advocacy for gender mainstreaming in the policies in Egypt and in the region

The HWBDC has three inter-connected activity centres.

a) B-External Training Centre provides training to women entrepreneurs and women-owners of micro, small and medium-sized businesses. Training addresses the following: � building self- confidence � writing a business plan and business development skills � product development , marketing, including e-marketing � one-to-one support for creation of a company: elements of the environment and processes � public policies and programmes to support the creation of companies

b) The Business Incubator Centre offers � premises for starting-up the company; � services for supporting technical, logistical and legal issues and communication technologies; � services focusing on product development including design, packaging, branding; � marketing services and support for to access to finance.

c) Centre for Strategic Reorientation specific guidance for women whose project was not selected to be incubated physically for more customised support.

IMPACT The programme is especially effective due to its strong outreach component, giving women in medium- and low-income, urban and rural areas, as well as different education backgrounds access to training opportuni-ties. Overall, this contributes to job creation and local economic development in the region.

EVALUATIONIn 2012 839 women followed training. The table below captures the level of satisfaction with the training.

RATING/ACTIVITIES EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR VERY POORProgramme design 724 79 35 1 -

Programme content 724 101 14 - -

Documentation 727 99 13 - -

Group work 743 84 12 - -

Outputs 740 68 27 4 -

Learning opportunities 760 79 - - -

Networking opportunities 702 125 12 - -

Organization 785 50 4 - -

BUDGET AND SUSTAINABILITYGiven its focus on marginalised and economically excluded women the project relies particularly on donors. Between 2010-2012 the EBWA managed a portfolio of over €1m million with the organisation’s own co-fi-nancing making up 22% of the budget. This money is generated through costs met by trainees.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Addressing the compeitiveness and inclusion agenda: the training provision gives equal attention to wom-en who are unemployed or operating in the informal sector as to women-owners of high-growth enter-prises;

� Holistic approach: the training programme comprises one pillar in a much wider range of support services for women entrepreneurs;

� Partnership: EBWA worked with established national and international partner organisations, including organisations with a specific interest in women’s business development and women’s economic empow-erment.

INNOOMNIA ENTREPRENEURIAL HUBMervi Jansson-Aalto InnoOmnia, Omnia, The Joint Authority of Education in Espoo Region Kirkkokatu 16 A 02070 Espoo, Finland Tel: +358 43 820 0152 Email: [email protected] Web: www.innoomnia.fi, www.omnia.fi

TARGET GROUPSThe primary target groups are � young people interested in starting a business � young people who have recently started a service sector business

SUMMARY DETAILS OF THE TRAINING PROJECTMeeting real needs � The training needs are assessed through an application process involving an entry questionnaire and an interview.

� Applicants are also evaluated on the basis of their potential value in terms of experience, fresh ideas and/or willingness to participate in community activities.

� There is an on-going assessment for those already in the programme.

The programme � InnoOmnia offers a range of services including a) entrepreneurship education for students, b) entrepre-neurship education for teachers and c) coaching for start-ups within a vocational schools environment;

� Specific focus is on supporting vocational and services sector entrepreneurship with primary emphasis on engaging with the business environment;

� Pupils undertakn reviews of their project work together with their teachers; � In-house entrepreneurs at the Omnia hub provide role models to pupils studying at Omnia; � The hallmark of InnoOmnia is its emphasis on a community approach to entrepreneurial learning with rented workspace. The focus is on tapping into all of the resources available in the community made up of teachers, students and entrepreneurs;

� The programme is mix of formal and informal events. The formal events focus on topics derived from the application process and are business related. The participants join the programme for a year.

� The informal events are built around networking, taking advantage of the innovative facilities designed to foster a community spirit;.

� Newcomers quickly find themselves involved in projects, arranging Lunch Beats or offering peer-to-peer assistance through a “help wanted” event.

IMPACT � As the programme has only been running for a year, impact assessment is not possible; � In the recent programme 16 people out of 20 started their own business.

EVALUATION � There is an ongoing dialogue with the three municipalities owning Omnia and the local entrepreneurs’ associations to improve the programme.

� All exiting entrepreneurs are interviewed to determine how services can be improved; � Entrepreneurs give regular feedback on the sessions.

BUDGET AND SUSTAINABILITY � The budget for running the programme and maintaining the facilities is €350,000 euros. � Entrepreneurs pay rent, which covers some of the costs

� Omnia is a vocational institution for 10000 students, it is commited to fostering entrepreneurship and allocating a budget for the purpose.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Entrepreneurial community: the added-value of Omnia is that it brings together education and enterprise as a community

� Learning environment: the informality of the learning environment and use of virtual community tools reinforces networking between pupils, teaching staff and entrepreneurs;

� Recognition: the hub has received a lot of publicity and is a best practice case study in the book ”Learn-ing a Living” by Valerie Hannon;

� Dissemination: over 100 national and international delegations have visited Omnia in 2012 and the con-cept has been presented at national and international conferences.

INCUBATION FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS CREATING INNOVATIVE BUSINESS (FRANCE)Claire Saddy Incubateur Rhône-Alpes Pionnières 99 rue de Gerland, 69007 LYON - FRANCE Email: [email protected] Telephone: +33 (0)6 59 38 15 55 Website: http://www.rhonealpespionnieres.org/

TARGET GROUPS � Women entrepreneurs of every age, social class and educational level � Women aiming to create a new business with innovative services.


Pionnières Incubators take into account all constraints faced by women in their entrepreneurial path and of-fer personalized support to each client. A needs analysis is undertaken through an individual interview with a Pionnières expert. The needs assessment focuses on: � competencies for business owners and leaders: business planning, management, sales and legal knowl-edge;

� skills to develop and growth businesses: sales, strategic decision-making process, innovation; � soft skills: self-confidence, personal branding, team spirit, effective networking; � access to finance and venture capital. � The project � Pionnières has built an innovative programme involving: � systematic individual coaching (at least 7 sessions before the business start-up); � pairing new start-up and experienced mentors � group training during the business creation and follow-up; � access to the Pionnières entrepreneurs’ network, le “Club Pionnières”; � low cost office availability; � mentoring/coaching focusing on role models of successful business women; � support services including child-minding and logistics (meeting rooms, videoconferencing, photocopying); � liaison with business angels and banks.

IMPACT Key impact data from Pionnières since 2005: � 2590 trainees have used Pionnière services � 400 women entrepreneurs followed pre-incubation training � 262 innovative businesses established � 600 jobs created

EVALUATION � Collective reviews of the network’s developments allow for improvements across the network

BUDGET AND SUSTAINABILITY � Costs are covered through those following the training � Every incubator is a member of the Federation Pioneers and is established under associative status. Each

has stockholders’ equity brought by public and private local financiers.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Extension: since 2005 and the success of Paris Pionnières, the network has been extended to include 16 new incubators (France, Morocco, Luxembourg, Belgium, Serbia, Tunisia and Guadeloupe.

� Networking: directors of the Pionnières meet quarterly, exchange on good practice and common develop-ments

� Quality Accreditation: Pionnières has received ISO 9001 certification � Monitoring: a central intelligence unit monitors wider developments in women’s entrepreneurship feeding into strategy building

� Partnership: Pionnières works closely with local authorities, universities and business schools

ENTERPRISE: BUSINESS START-UP ADVICE FOR YOUNG UNEMPLOYED Denise List Gemeinnuetzige iq consult GmbH Project enterprise Schiffbauergasse 7 10407 Potsdam, Germany Email: [email protected] Tel: +49 331 620 79 44 Mob: +49 1761 611 34 91 Web: www.iq-enterprise.de Facebook: www.facebook.com/enterpriseBrandenburg

TARGET GROUPSThe course is directed at unemployed young people under 27 years who are interested in becoming self-employed.

SUMMARY DETAILS OF THE TRAINING PROJECTMeeting real needs � Training is defined by an assessment of personal skills of the individual focusing on individual strengths and resources. The profiling is a mixture of self-assessment and assessment by peers and experts.

� On the basis of the assessment, training support is tailored to the individual needs and offers a modular, targeted support programme to each business start-up.

The project � The programme consists of advisory support in developing a business idea into a marketable product and preparing a business plan.

� Workshops covering for example legal, marketing and organisational topics. � Pedagogic approaches include co-working in order to learn in peer groups and to develop professional networks.

� All participants gets support with organisational matters of registering an enterprise, negotiating with banks and applying for further funding.

� During the first year of business, enterprise alumni participate in networking events and round tables, as well as getting further start-up support by ‘iq consult’ advisors (funded by a different programme) to support business growth.

IMPACT � Over 10,000 young people have participated in the training � More than 300 businesses were registered. � 70% of start-ups still operating. � Most participants remain as self-employed although there are examples of extra employment being creat-ing by the businesses.

EVALUATIONEvaluation activities are as follows: � ‘Enterprise’ keeps record of all participants and evaluates the data statistically. These statistics and activi-ties are reported to the funding authorities twice per year.

� Annual surveys are conducted in order to evaluate the number of enterprises still operating on the mar-ket.

� Evaluation of workshops and advisory processes are conducted together with participants. As a result,

adaptation in curricula, conception of additional workshops, and feedback to advisors are regularly intro-duced.

BUDGET AND SUSTAINABILITY � The annual budget of enterprise in the period 2010-2013 averages €300,000 which covers staff and run-ning costs)

� The service is supported by public funds.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Social media and visibility: participants and stakeholders find useful information on the enterprise web-site, facebook page and in the regularly sent newsletter;

� Extension: the ‘enterprise’ experience has contributed to the design wider start-up programmes by ‘iq consult’;

� Dissemination: experience of the ‘enterprise’ is disseminated by way of conferences, expert talks and lectures with examples of ‘enterprise’ being adapted to other regions (e.g. Mecklenburg-Western-Pomer-ania, Saxonia, Saxonia-Anhalt and Thuringia);

� Leadership and recognition: Norbert Kunz, founder and CEO of ‘iq consult’, was awarded Ashoka Fellow for ‘enterprise’ in 2007 and the project is recognised as good practice by the EU and the OECD.

BUSINESS FOCUS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN & MIDDLE EASTPaolo Palamiti New International Business Institute (NIBI) Via Camperio 1, I - 20123 Milano Tel: +39 02 8515 5227 Email: [email protected] & [email protected] Web: www.nibi-milano.it

TARGET GROUPSThe course is directed at � business owners � managers and staff from micro, small and medium enterprises, � business consultants wishing to update their knowledge and skills.


Training needs for the project are assessed as follows: � surveys of members of Milan Chamber of Commerce � focus groups � meetings with enterprises and international business experts � market analysis

The project

The thrust of the ‘Business Focus on Mediterranean and Middle East’ training focuses trainees particularly on reading and interpreting the individual markets of the Southern Mediterranean region. The learning out-comes are course participants ability: � to determine whether or not they are able to take the business operations into the region � to structure business environment to accommodate an internationalisation process.

The course is structured around two pillars: � regional focus: broad analysis business issues for the Southern Mediterranean region, legislation includ-ing socio-cultural issues important for doing business

� country focus: detailed analysis and information on business environments in individual countries

The course is delivered by a mix of university professors, business people and consultants with established experience of business development in the Southern Mediterranean.

The course is provided at weekends to minimize disruption to busy businesses.

IMPACT Given that the course is new, plans for impact assessment are as follows: � surveys and follow-up interviews with companies which have followed the training; � company tracking to specifically focus on new products and services for external markets; � numbers of students taking the course.

EVALUATIONEvaluation activities are as follows:

� structured evaluation sheets and feedback by trainees, both in terms of contents, professors and experts capabilities. Trainee feedback highlights 80% participant satisfaction

SUCCESS FACTORS � Expertise: top-level faculty staff (legal, finance and economists) sourced from the best Italian universities coupled with entrepreneurs and consultants whose experience is essential for the learning process;

� Continuous improvements: curriculum continuously updated set again changing political and economic reforms in the Mediterranean and Middle East region;

� Curriculum: mix of regional and country-specific focus within the curriculum. � Pedagogic methods: NIBI uses a mix of interactive methods for learning with a particular focus on train-ees sharing their knowledge and know-how, group project work and case studies;

� Networking: extra value is generated for the course (and wider training environment) the knowledge-shar-ing and cooperation amongst a) teaching staff b) students;

� Market segment: a special focus on international business for micro, small and medium enterprises (90% of the Italian and European businesses) while other training providers primarily concentrate on large companies;

� Sustainability: two factors which have contributed to sustainability of the training are a) quality of curricu-lum and teaching, set against attractive costs of training compared with competitor business schools and b) meeting market demand from business ready and able to work internationally.

TATWEER: BUSINESS AND EXPORT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT FOR JORDANIAN ENTERPRISESRashad Bibars Business Development Center P.O. Box 941865 Amman 11194 Jordan Tel: +962 6 586 5002 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bdc.org.jo

TARGET GROUPSCEOs and middle managers in SMEs with potential to export


Training needs for the project are assessed as follows: � one-on-one diagnostics by BDC team using a business management system approach designed by the International Trade Center

� international markets trends and regulation � focus group meetings with “cluster” members � international buyers incoming missions

The project

The project comprises a holistic approach to enterprise development, involving training, mentoring and wider SME support services. Key modules of the training are: � leadership development training � export planning training � access to finance training � behavioural entrepreneurial development training � technical training on new innovative approaches (e.g. lean manufacturing)

The training is delivered through BDC trainers as well as practitioners who undergo a train-the-trainers programme. The trainers utilize cases studies, role playing and group exercises to encourage collaborative learning. The training includes practical field work with specific deliverables related to real-life experience.

An important element of success is BDC linkages with potential buyers or brokers who provide market information and build training based on evolving market needs.

IMPACT Impact from the training can be summarised as follows: � development of a pioneering training package addressing an untapped segment of the market; � establishment of a new group of trainers and consultants specialized in export development; � introduction of a new career line for professionals in the export functions; � opening of new markets for Jordanian SMEs; � increased exports by participating companies to USA by $19.6m � first shipments of Jordanian exports to Canada worth $500 � 4,453 jobs created.

EVALUATIONIntegral features of the project are: � a tracking feedback from all trainees after each training session; � quarterly evaluation of the project measuring impact of training for trainees within their enterprise; � evaluation by donor of initial training project resulting in a new module being added to the training pack-age (entrepreneurial behavioural training);

SUCCESS FACTORS � Market relevance: market needs assessment as a prerequisite for training and following a demand-driven approach, thus customizing the training packages to meet the specific needs of enterprise;

� Holistic approach: business development involving training based on intensive training needs assess-ment, mentoring and wider SME support services (e.g. access to finance);

� Training of trainers: capacity of BDC trainers developed through coaching by an international trainer; � Embedding: integrating of the project (or aspects of the project) within the educational system (e.g. uni-versities) and other national initiatives;

� Efficiency: cost sharing mechanisms (client contribution, donor subsidy, BDC contribution).

INJAZ LEBANON COMPANY PROGRAMMERania Jalkh INJAZ Lebanon Horsh Tabet, Sin El Fil, Haber Building Beirut Lebanon Tel: +961 1 492330 Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Web: www.injaz-lebanon.org

TARGET GROUPSThe primary target group is secondary school pupils aged 15-18 from public and private schools across Lebanon.


Accessing the labour market in Lebanon is increasingly challenging and particularly for young people where joblessness stands at 20%. Encouraging young people to consider entrepreneurship in their career planning is one option which needs more particular attention and the role of education in supporting this process is critical.

The project

The project objectives are to: � build the students’ confidence, strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset, foster a desire to achieve and trigger their inspiration for action; and

� to contribute to the building of an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lebanon by nurturing an entrepreneurial culture in young generations.

� Company Program comprises an after-school activity where pupils are introduced to the business world and through group exercises establish a company. Particular features of the initiative are that the training is

� provided on-site at the participating schools; � delivered directly to school pupils by business men and business women acting in a voluntary capacity; � supported and facilitated by INJAZ which brings the school and business community together.

All business people participating in the project follow a training programme prior to directly engaging with the school and its pupils.

Each programme covers a period of 15-20 weeks and engages pupils for 3 hours per week.

The delivery of training for students includes the following: � programme covering a period of 15-20 weeks and engaging pupils for 3 hours per week; � volunteer business man or woman provides group-based sessions after school hours (3 hours per week); � curriculum covers : company structure and the student’s role within a company, company capitalization, customer- product focus, product- market pricing, company operations, product sales, company liquida-tion;

� throughout the sessions and after, students apply skills learnt and over the training cycle they gradually build the student company from electing the president of the company, to building the structure of the company, and effectively managing the company);

� INJAZ coordinators conduct regular visits to the schools monitoring the training delivery and providing assistance to the volunteer business people, as appropriate;

� The training closes with liquidation of the student companies and submission of the company’s final report;

� All student companies compete for the title of Best National Student Company (Lebanon). The winner also competes in a Regional Competition for Arab Young Entrepreneurs against 13 other national winders

of Arab student companies organised by INJAZ’s regional organisation (INJAZ Al Arab).

IMPACTPost-training assessment by way of focus groups (pupils, volunteer trainers, parents) underline � pupils’ knowledge and skills of the creation and management of a company; � better understanding of pupils of the relationship learning and the economy; � more developed teamwork and leadership skills; � increased numbers of pupils annually as the programme is better known.

EVALUATION All training cycles are followed by an exchange between the pupils and INJAZ coordination staff to identify successful aspects of the training and areas for improvement.

BUDGET AND SUSTAINABILITY � Annual budget is €55,000. This covers operational, training for business people engaged in the pro-gramme, learning materials, marketing and branding, and costs of travel for pupils participating in regional competition.

� Sustainability of the programme is assured as a function of volunteer trainers, strong partnership with schools, education authorities and private sector.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Adapting good practice: the programme borrows on a similar tried-and-tested education programme form the US (Junior Achievement);

� Partnership: good working relationships with key players in the public and private sector ensures continui-ty in support and developments;

� Visibility: Lebanese and pan-Arab press interest (TV, newspapers, digital media) provides marketing and presence;

� Efficiency: with business people providing training services free of charge the programme’s costs in rela-tion to the scale of its activity remain low;

� Quality of trainers: careful selection of business people to provide training, as well as INJAZ training of these business people to deliver on the programme, ensures quality services.

PRACTICAL MARKET RESEARCH FOR EXPORT Aleksandar Jovanovic Regional Chamber of Commerce Karadjordjeva 64, 14000 Valjevo Republic of Serbia Tel: +381 14 221 721 Fax: +381 14 220 987 Email: [email protected] Website: www.inwestserbia.com

TARGET GROUPSKey target groups of the training course are: a) export- oriented companies, b) SMEs with interests to ex-pand into international markets, c) business and sector support organizations, d) start-up entrepreneurs, e) and business women keen on developing international trade.


Training needs for the project are based on training and knowledge requirements identified through re-search by the a) Chamber of Commerce of Valjevo region (Serbia) and b) research supported by the EU programme (Support to Enterprise Competitiveness and Export Promotion).

Outcomes of the research pointed to a demand by SME for new knowledge and skills for businesses with an expert potential in particular related to market intelligence (e.g. market trends, buyers, pricing).

The project

The training project involves the following: � A module focusing on selection of the best export markets: trainees learn how to use international trade portals and to base their decisions on statistical data about trade dynamics and filter broader selection into market with best import potentials for their SMEs.

� A module focusing on finding practical and real business information on export markets: trainees learn how to ICT tools to find information about important aspects of foreign import markets such as: tariff and non-tariff market access requirements, importing country market trends, trade fairs, buyers and pricing.

� A module to develop a market research action plan: participants learn how develop an action plan which will be used within the business after completion of raining.

� Learning contract. All trainees are required to apply learning back in the enterprise through the market research action plan developed through the course. Trainers follow up to determine impact of learning on the

� Methods. The training is delivered with the use of computers with internet connection. Learning-by-do-ing is the key element of the training and trainees are guided through a number of exercises where they work on their company product and use the internet as the main source for secondary market research. Trainees are required to work in pairs using real business problems.

� Partnership arrangements: Some training is organised in collaboration with international trade support organizations such as International Trade Centre or with private database companies such as Compass.

EVALUATIONEvaluation involves direct follow-up by trainers with the companies which have engaged on the training to determine extent to which market research skills and action plan have been implemented.

Costs associated with the course are kept low given that main medium for learning is through information already available on the web.

IMPACT Impact assessment is based on feedback from companies on application of market research methods for increased business abroad.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Relevance of training: applying learning to real business problem ensure trainee commitment � Learning through ICT: through use of information technology ensure cost-effective training while allowing for new skills and competences back into the business;

� Follow-up to training +: trainees who develop an action plan of market research are followed up by the trainer to determine impact of training, for further support and for review the action plan;

� ‘Learning contract’: all training involves a follow-up ‘contract’ between the trainer and the trainee.

AMBASSADORS FOR WOMEN´S ENTREPRENEURSHIPGunilla Thorstensson Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, Tillväxtverket Box 4044, Götgatan 74, S-102 61 Stockholm, Sweden E-mail: [email protected] Tel +46 86816587, Mob: +46 706486539 Websites: www.ambassadorer.se, www.tillvaxtverket.se/kvinnorsforetagande, www.tillvaxtverket.se

TARGET GROUPSYoung women at school and universities considering their future career choice and women who are inter-ested in starting their own business.

SUMMARY DETAILS OF THE TRAINING PROJECTThe Ambassadors for Women´s Entrepreneurship is a national network of 800 women entrepreneurs, who in an innovative way of informal learning, use storytelling as an instructional technique to create under-standing and interest amongst women to consider entrepreneurship as a career choice.

Meeting real needs

Sweden has a low level of entrepreneurship in general. Today 25-30% of the companies are run by women. Being an entrepreneur is still closely connected to men and being male. Surveys show that women in gen-eral are not perceived as entrepreneurs. Thus, the barriers for women entering entrepreneurship are higher.

The project � The Ambassadors for Women´s Entrepreneurship initiative started in 2008. It is coordinated by the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket), as a part of the national programme ‘Promoting Women´s Entrepreneurship’, launched and financed by the Swedish Government.

� The Ambassadors tell their story to inspire others, as well as giving a realistic picture of what it is like to run a business, thus raising the interest of entrepreneurship as a career choice and also increasing the knowledge of entrepreneurship and what it is like to run a business.

� Each Ambassador commits to undertaking four voluntary assignments a year, speaking at schools, univer-sities, networks, non-profit organizations or meeting with other women, who are considering setting up a business.

� The primary pedagogic method is storytelling. It forms an important part of non-formal learning and where role-modeling provides an additional pillar to the efforts to developed the ‘“If she can, so can I” mindset.

� The Ambassadors contribute to making women entrepreneurs more visible in the society and in busi-ness community as well as in helping transform Sweden into a more entrepreneurial society

IMPACT � The Ambassadors have met with 107 000 people during 2008-2011. So far, 6 300 ambassador assign-ments have been registered on www.ambassadorer.se,

� 48% of the people who have listened to an ambassador say that they have become more interested in developing their own ideas

� 58% of the people who have listened to an ambassador say that their knowledge of running a business have increased as a result of meeting with an Ambassador.

� 87% of the Ambassadors say that they would recommend someone else to become an Ambassador, � 66% of the Ambassadors say that being an Ambassador has strengthened their personal brand � 64 % of the Ambassadors say that the ambassadorship has contributed to a more extensive business network.

EVALUATIONThe programme Promoting Women´s Entrepreneurship was evaluated in April 2011, in which the Ambassa-dors for Women´s Entrepreneurship initiative was included. The independent evaluation, found the project Ambassadors for Women´s Entrepreneurship to be efficiently run and effectively reaching its goals and target groups.

Assignments are also evaluated by the people listening or meeting with an ambassador. In general, the ambassadors get very good evaluations.

BUDGET � The project administration and marketing is financed by the Swedish Government (annual budget of SEK 5 million).

� Ambassadors provide services voluntary – low cost-high impact.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Extension: Ambassadors for Women´s Entrepreneurship has been spread in 20 other EU countries, Rec-ognition: The International Council for Women´s Business Leadership has nominated the Ambassadors for Women´s Entrepreneurship as a good practice;

� Pioneering pedagogic approach: the use of story-telling for informal learning purposes in a structured environment is novel;

� Cost-effectiveness: with Ambassadors providing services on a voluntary basis, the project is low cost-high impact.

INCREASING SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES & PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY THROUGH WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TAJIKISTANGulbakhor Makhkamova / Firuza Nabieva E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Phone: 8342242353 / 8342240056 Cell: +992927770239 / +992927643777 Skype: gmakhkamova / firuza.nabieva Linked in: http://www.imon.tj

TARGET GROUPSWomen who are � are 18 years old & more; � are not entrepreneurs but plan to start business; � are employed but wish to start their own business; � have less than 6 months experience in business; � already in business but hope to start another venture.


Tajikistan is a country with conservative gender norms and high migration of young, working age men (30-70%). The social costs are high as many families have no male household’ heads for years at a time. To address some of the challenges in women empowerment and entrepreneurship in Tajikistan, in 2009 IMON in partnership with ILO (International Labour Organization) & NABWT (National Association of Business Woman of Tajikistan) introduced a new start-up loan programme with an entrepreneurship training compo-nent.

A survey-based needs analysis based conducted by IMON in 2008 demonstrated that male entrepreneurs were more likely to apply for loans than female (88% of women vs. 94% of men). Some 65% of IMON clients go on to register their business but with differences between men and women (71% compared to 59%).

The four-day training programme borrows on the ILO ‘GET Ahead’ module which was adapted to the Tajik gender context. It has a strong gender component and aims at improving women’s competences in market-ing, book keeping, business planning and management, as well as raising their self-confidence.

Loan arrangements, where they are required, are conditional on prior training which includes development of a business plan.

IMPACT The primary impact of the training is at personal level in terms of business practices and more broadly on empowerment.

EVALUATIONFeedback analysis confirms professionalism of trainers and great satisfaction by participants with the train-ing content, delivery and materials used.

The program has been evaluated by ILO and is confirmed as effectiveness in promoting women’s entrepre-neurship in Tajikistan.

Key issues: � Training was more effective for those who received both the training and the start-up loan compared to those who received only the training;

� Training and access to finance (start-up capital) together increase income generating opportunities for women;

� Availability of start-up generates new customers for IMON; � Training contributes to higher rates of loan repayment by women.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Interfacing access to finance and training; � Improving financial literacy of women and loan management skills; � Training is provided at sites convenient to participants from remote rural areas.

BUDGET AND SUSTAINABILITY � Since 2009 training costs are covered by IMON and include: trainer’s salary, training materials for partici-pants.

� Plans are underway to introduce participant contribution (approx.20-50% of the total cost).

SIMVENTURE - DRIVING THE ECONOMY FORWARDMartin Glassett Venture Simulations Ltd Selby Road UK - YO19 6QR York Tel: +44 1757 248168 Mob: +44 7950 283511 Email: [email protected] Website: www.simventure.co.uk Twitter: @petesimventure; @eurosimventure

TARGET GROUPS � SimVenture is primarily targeted at teachers and trainers from schools, colleges, universities, enterprise centres and the commercial and voluntary sector.

� Beneficiaries of SimVenture training include: future labour market entrants from further secondary, further and higher education, the unemployed, start-ups and growing enterprises.

SUMMARY DETAILS OF THE TRAINING PROJECTMeeting real needs � With increasing concerns at national, European and global levels about competitiveness and employment, there is a need for greater access to flexible and cost-effective solutions to support future labour market entrants, the unemployed and those considering an entrepreneurship career to start their own business-es;

� SimVenture is a business simulation game which is used in a diverse range of markets at very low unit rates (Licences: £20 per user per year – large scale institutional use as low as £1 per user per year).

� Central to SimVenture strategy is to develop new businesses and help prepare them to operate success-fully across international borders.

THE PROJECT � SimVenture training comprises a learning software designed by experienced entrepreneurs. It provides an authentic, engaging and sustainable way for people to practice, fail and learn about running a business.

� Training is delivered to teachers and trainers who integrate SimVenture within their curriculum. � Teachers and trainers are accredited and follow up-skilling courses as new versions of the software come on board;

� Training is provided through a) on-site training (e.g. schools, universities, training centres), b) Simventure training centres in the UK; and c) on-line training given demand for online training from abroad.

� Feedback from trainers and trainees and wider evaluation of the software drives the design and develop-ment of the software;

� Dedicated SimVenture web-pages exist for training packages; research and feedback; newsletters; email communications; and teacher’s on-line Forum. The desire is to foster a ‘Communicate, Collaborate, Share’ ethos.

� The current version (4.8) launched in July 2012 has many new learning and teaching features. � The learning software can now be translated into most other languages and is already available in Spanish & Romanian as well as English.

EVALUATION � Evaluation is embedded into SimVenture training product and services � A number of independent organisations including universities have conducted research to assess the impact of SimVenture as a teaching and learning and teaching resource.

� 2010 Higher Education and Further Education student impact survey: 73% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they tend to have a better understanding of self-employment as a result of using SimVenture; 43%

‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they were more likely to start a business as a result of using SimVen-ture;

� The UK’s Southampton Solent University Undergraduate Survey 2011: 64% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that using the simulation had improved overall business skills (20% disagreed – others ‘No Opinion’);

� Results of a current large-scale UK learner study will be published in 2013. MD Peter Harrington regularly speaks at international conferences to share and disseminate learning.

IMPACT � The first SimVenture training course ran in 2006 with ten participants. In 2012, an estimated 50,000 peo-ple will use SimVenture as part of a training program.

� SimVenture teachers and trainers span developed, transition and emerging economies: UK, Greece, Egypt, Mexico, USA, Romania, Lithuania, Italy, Mexico and USA.

SUCCESS FACTORS � Sustainability: SimVenture is a commercially successful business simulation that focuses on learner and teacher needs;

� Extension: rapid growth in popularity of the simulation from the UK to five continents; � Research & Development: SimVenture services include on-going research to best understand the chang-ing needs of learners, teachers and trainers;

� Flexibility: flexible learning and teaching resource, which can be used in a diverse range of markets at very low unit rates;

� Empowerment: the value of SimVenture is its capacity to provide teachers and trainers with the means to set objectives based on what they wish the learners to achieve.

� Marketing: sponsorship of UK entrepreneurship educators’ award including regular keynotes at interna-tional conferences to share and disseminate learning.

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