MEMO/07/554
Brussels, 6th December 2007
European Enterprise Awards 2007
More than 300 regional and local authorities – including towns, cities, regions and communities as well as public-private partnerships between public authorities and entrepreneurs, educational programmes and business organisations– competed in the national round of the 2007 Awards. Participating countries could select up to two candidates for the European competition. The final 48 nominees represented a wide variety of projects that are successful in facilitating business and supporting entrepreneurship across Europe. They competed in one of the six categories of the European Enterprise Awards:
Entrepreneurial Trailblazer:actions that promote an entrepreneurial culture and mindset.
Enterprise Support: innovative policies that promote enterprise and attract investment, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Red Tape Reduction:measures to simplify administrative procedures for businesses, in particular for start-ups.
Investment in People: initiatives to improve entrepreneurship education and training.
Responsible Entrepreneurship:corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices.
The European Jury also presented the Jury’s Grand prize to the entry that it considered the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe.
1.The Entrepreneurial Trailblazer Award
Winner
Ethnic Coach in the Vejle Area, Vejle, Denmark
Promoting enterprise, sharing knowledge on entrepreneurial efforts and offering guidance on developing businesses is an important route to employment and integration of immigrants. The ethnic coaching project in Vejle focused initially on identifying role models and persuading immigrants to use business services available in Denmark. It is also encouraging immigrants with skills and further education to take over Danish businesses when the owners retire.
Results have been impressive. 45 guidance sessions with individual coaching by a consultant from an ethnic group have already led to 24 ethnic entrepreneurs starting independent businesses – and 19 of these are still going.
While this project is on a small scale, it is hitting a key target: dynamic people needing support. Moreover it impacts both business and social integration. The outcome to date has surpassed expectations and contributed to Vejle being named DanishEnterpriseTown of the Year for 2007 by a panel that included representatives of the Danish Enterprise and Construction Authority and the Confederation of Danish Industries.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact Michael Jul-Nørup Pederse, business consultant – phone: +45 76 811900; fax: +45 76 81 19 10; e-mail:
Runner-up
XperRegio, Lower Bavaria, Germany
XperRegio is a strategic alliance of 21 local communities, set up in 2003 to focus on entrepreneurship, creating real professional jobs – not just in agriculture and tourism – and improving the quality of life in a remote rural region. It is the first time such a small group of communities has initiated and successfully managed an EU regional programme on its own without state intervention, and has now led to the establishment of company to increase the region’s entrepreneurial commitment.
The alliance initially drew up an independent Action Programme 2020 and installed a regional management. It now provides individual and entrepreneur-orientated support in form of advice, contacts and tailor-made financial backing.
Much of the success of the alliance comes from the large number of stakeholders and multipliers involved. Key results include 190 programme applications with 170 entrepreneurs setting up companies, creating 300 new jobs. Venture-related costs of €14.3 million were supported with €3 million from the EU. In October 2006, the German Ministry for Transport awarded the Federal Prize for Inter-community co-operation to the project.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact Dipl.-Ing. Franz Dullinger, Regional manager – phone: +49 9951 6038 22; fax: +49 9951 6038 23; e-mail:
2.Enterprise Support Award
Winner
1,2,3 GO, the Greater Region network of experts and its business start-up bonuses, Luxembourg
1,2,3,GO is an interregional network of over 290 experts and entrepreneurs assisting in the development of successful business plans for innovative businesses in Saar, Loraine, Luxembourg, French-speaking Belgium and Trier.
The network advises future entrepreneurs on how to draw up business plans. The completed plans are assessed by network experts; business starters submitting the best plans are able to apply for a start-up bonus: free coaching for three years together with support for borrowing as the non-profit organisation provides a 100% loan guarantee and pays part of the interest charged on the bank loan.
In seven years, 1,2,3,GO has contributed to drafting 750 business plans with the creation of 160 start-up companies and 900 jobs. A key strength lies in the scheme’s inter-regional nature, helping project initiators to develop cross-border contacts quickly and expand business beyond their home region. With its focus on innovation and good feedback mechanisms, it offers a strong basis for future development.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact Barbara Dubus, Communication Manager – phone: +352 42 39 39 273; fax: +352 42 39 39 275; e-mail:
Runner-up
North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone Ltd, North Staffordshire, United Kingdom
There is significant manufacturing and environmental dereliction in Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire, once home to thriving industries – including ceramics, coal, steel and tyre manufacturing – and their supply chains. Over the last 30 years, the area has seen drastic structural changes to its economy. Irreversible decline, fuelled by overwhelming global market changes, has resulted in the closing of many factories and businesses.
Branded in 2003 as the worst place in the country to start a business, the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone set out to develop a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Directly, it has already helped create more than 1000 jobs and 500 businesses. More importantly, it is starting to change the entrepreneurial culture. Over 20 sustainable social enterprises have already been set up in local schools. And some 7500 young people have had a real taste of enterprise.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact James Capper, Enterprise & Innovation Strategy Manager – phone: +44 1782 234987; fax: +44 1782 233461; e-mail:
3.Red Tape Reduction
See below: Good Practices in Red Tape Reduction
4.Investment in People Award
Winner
Cap’Ten, ICHEC-PME, Bruxelles, Belgium
Cap’Ten stimulates entrepreneurship in primary school children aged 10 to 12 using resources that sharpen their creativity, independence, openness, responsibility and communications skills. Participants pick their own challenge and exploit their personal talents with the support of a kit of project management tools specially adapted to their age.
A particular objective is to change the mindset in the EU Member State with the least number of people wanting to set up their own companies. Moreover, the project offers a real methodology rather than just a ‘book of instructions’.
Since the launch of the project in 2004, more than 30000 pupils in the French Community in Belgium have been involved – over a quarter of the age category. The scheme was tested in the Flemish region of Belgium in the 2006/2007 school year and will be available on a large scale in Dutch from autumn 2007. Cap’Ten will also be introduced in France with a test phase in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Ile-de-France in collaboration with local partner ‘Soyons curieux’.
More information about Cap’Ten may be found at:
or contact: Laurence Lievens, Cap’Ten project manager – phone: +32 2 739 38 69; fax: +32 2 739 38 63; e-mail:
Runner-up
Eigen Werk, (Work for Yourself), Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Dutch Department of Work and Income, Centre for Work and Income and Employee Insurance Agency joined forces to overcome prejudice against older workers. Eigen Werk (Work for Yourself) focuses on the unemployed aged 40/45+ in and around Amsterdam to provide support and guidance in independent entrepreneurship. Itconcentrates particularly on those considering setting up a one-man business. In the first 18 months, 390 candidates took part in the programme, and 130 have successfully started their own businesses or have found a job, with a drop-out rate of less than 10%.
Eigen Werk offers a short introductory programme and candidates then propose their business plans. Intensive coaching is provided, but the candidates do the work themselves. During the programme, they are required to seek out their first real commissions, and receive training in networking. All candidates also receive knowledge vouchers to exchange for the services of external experts.
The Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs has recognised the unique approach and good results of Eigen Werk by granting it ‘Good Practice’ status on the basis of a study of initiatives aimed at getting older people back into employment. The methodology has already been extended elsewhere in the Netherlands, and an Eigen Werk subsidiary has been opened in Alkmaar and Hoorn.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact: Bartho Boer, DWI Communication Manager – phone: +31 20-3464791;
e-mail:
5.Responsible Entrepreneurship Award
Winner
Fabrica Ethica, (Ethical Production), Tuscany, Italy
Promotion of corporate social responsibility at a regional level, grants of €3.5 million leading to investments of nearly €7 million and a national award for socially certified enterprises are the principal achievements to date of Fabrica Ethica, the corporate social responsibility programme launched by the Tuscan Region in 2001.
Tuscany now has the largest number of enterprises certified to the international corporate social responsibility standard SA8000, both in Italy with 32% of all certified companies and in the world with 13%.
The Tuscan region has some 414000 companies employing over 800000 staff; of which the vast majority have less than five employees and only 1250 have more than 50. Fabrica Ethica’s initiatives are carried out through multi-stakeholder involvement and collaboration within the Regional Ethical Commission (CER). While the area is relatively small, the activities have had a major impact, including a much cleaner environment, and gained important fiscal advantages.
More information may be found at:
or
or contact Cristiano Lucchi, press agent –
phone: +39 055 4384842;
fax: +39 055 4384800; e-mail:
Runner-up
The Paper Trail, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
A unique centre for enterprise, learning and sustainability based around paper media is being developed at Frogmore Mill, where paper’s industrial revolution began 200 years ago. The Paper Trail rescue package has conserved an important part of Britain’s industrial heritage and sparked an economic and environmental revival in the surrounding area. This includes creating an enterprise centre from disused buildings that provides office space to over 26 local start-up businesses.
Work and enterprise experience for schools started in 2004; so far over 5000 students and many disadvantaged young people and adults have been involved.
Grant funding has also been used to create innovative income streams. For example, a research grant from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) made it possible to start the UK’s first closed-loop paper recycling scheme for schools. Paper is collected from the 250 schools registered for the scheme and recycled coloured paper produced on heritage machinery goes back them.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact MrsJacky Bennett – phone: +44 870 950 9272; fax: +44 1442 275 748;
e-mail:
6.Grand Jury Award
Winner
Development of premises for business use in Bilbao, Lan Ekintza-Bilbao, Spain
City centre decay is a familiar problem in an increasingly urbanised Europe. Bilbao City Council has taken an original approach to urban redevelopment by setting up as business property developer to attract new-start and established businesses to its old town. Companies setting up in the area can obtain financial support for business viability studies, starting-up their new ventures, the refurbishment and fitting-out of premises, relocation, IT equipment and management improvement.
Some 17 premises have been renovated and then auctioned off to companies in the target sectors of leisure,arts, culture, fashion and technology. The whole area is benefiting with 129 new companies creating 268 jobs. The success of the scheme is reflected in the area’s regeneration and improvement in the quality of social and economic life in these neighbourhoods, while promoting their integration with the rest of the city. It is also helping to combat marginalisation and social exclusion.
A major advantage of the scheme lies in the positive management of cash flow for the investments. In view of the good results obtained, Bilbao City Council has already acquired another 13 premises and is open to further additions.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact MsConcha Rodríguez Ramos, Head of Strategic Interventions
– phone: +34 94 4205361-60; fax: +34 94 4205363; e-mail:
Jury’s Special Mention
The jury would like to highlight two further projects that demonstrate fully the values and efforts which the European Enterprise Awards aim to encourage.
CAP Création Sarthe, Sarthe, France
The Sarthe business centre offers financial support during the so calledbusiness start-up leave available in France to give salary earners the chance to start a business. During or after their leave, project initiators may launch their company or return to their former employment. Some 34 companies have been or are being setup since 2002, with 28 still going, and 96 jobs have been created. Without such a structure, this may not have been possible.
The success of this project highlights not only the activities of the Sarthe business centre but also the French state’s business start-up leave scheme to encourage employees, particularly senior managers, to set up their own company without fear of finding themselves without work if they fail.
Moreover, the Sarthe structure – the only one of its kind in France – reflects the business centre’s belief that providing a safety net for a new business as it takes its first steps multiplies the chances of success. In addition to the mechanisms used to meet obvious capital needs, the Sarthe centre is concerned about an asset often overlooked, namely time.
More information may be found at:
or contact Anne-Hélène Foret, Communications officer – phone: +33 2 43 57 72 72;
e-mail:
Thuishuis (Childcare from Home) Foundation, Groningen, Netherlands
The growing economy in the Netherlands, with ever more parents going out to work, poses a problem in rural areas. Here the traditional support network has been equally eroded by the reducing number of people at home during the day. Stichting Thuishuis (Thuishuis Foundation) was established in 2002 to provide small-scale child day-care facilities in the countryside in the northern provinces, where large-scale childcare centres are not feasible.
Using a franchise system, the foundation offers people the chance to start a fully-fledged business in their own home, while offering them the opportunity to combine work and family better. The resulting businesses are not part-time concerns but generate viable incomes.
There are already 28 branches of Thuishuis, averaging 115 care hours each a week, and numbers are set to grow. The franchising factor provides an important multiplier element that encourages the spread of the approach.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact: Dr T. Mulder, Director – phone: +31 505770101; fax: +31 505776493;
e-mail:
Good Practices in Red Tape Reduction
The two projects in this category deserving distinction were not eligible because they were national and not regional projects. Nevertheless, the jury considers these projects excellent examples of good practice that merit to be shared more widely.
Company Registration Portal (CReP), Tallinn, Estonia
Entrepreneurs in Estonia can now register a company in 12 minutes without leaving home. All they need is an identity card and an Internet connection. The process uses digital signatures and online bank links. The Company Registration Portal (CReP) enables entrepreneurs to handle all communications with the Commercial Register through the portal without any extra paperwork. Since the beginning of 2007, 27% of private companies have registered this way.
The European Council in June 2006 set a target that registering a company should take no longer than a week in Member States. The Estonian state has updated its company registration legislation as a result. The CReP offers a good start for a fast, constructive and sustainable solution to the administrative tasks involved that supports competitiveness and contributes to the regional development of rural areas in Estonia.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact Gerli Hämmal, Head of the Service Development Unit – phone: +372 6 837 508; fax: +372 6 460 165; e-mail:
Széchenyi Card Scheme, Budapest, Hungary
The Széchenyi Card Scheme offers a highly successful state-subsidised electronic credit facility that assists most newly-launched SMEs in a country where opening a bank account is still difficult. The scheme is run by KAVOZ, an association established by the National Association of Employers and Entrepreneurs (VOSZ) and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK), the two largest entrepreneurial business federations in Hungary.
KAVOZ acts as an agent for five credit institutions and the integrated network of co-operative savings banks in Hungary. It co-ordinates the distribution activities of the scheme via the offices of the entrepreneurial business federations running it and through one of the most developed computer networks in Hungary.
Over the past five years, the Széchenyi Card Scheme has been reviewed regularly both to increase the availability of funding and reduce the administrative burdens by simplifying entitlement and use, and overcoming practical problems such as the acceptability of documents.
More information about this project may be found at:
or contact László Krisán, CEO – phone: +36 1 302 0855; fax: +36 1 302 0847;
e-mail: and
More information
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