SME-TraiNet project's objectives

SME-TraiNet is a project funded by the LEONARDO DA VINCI programme of the European Commission.
Its aim it is to improve the support structures for young SMEs in their critical phase between their third and fifth year of business operation. The objective will be achieved by sharing of good practice among European stakeholdersin consulting and training of young enterprises.

• Improvement of transparency of the available training and support structures for SMEs/ young businesses at national and at European level.
• Transfer of good practice at national and at European level.
• Raising awareness at political level (national and European) level for the specific needs of SMEs.
• Support the sustainable growth and development of SMEs/ young businesses and strengthen their economic position on the European and global market.
• Strengthening of the development and growth of young businesses and reducing business failure in their first five years of operation by optimised training and guidance structures and offers.
• Better understanding of current and future needs of young businesses and SMEs by VET and guidance providers.
• Stronger consideration of the needs of young businesses and SMEs in VET and guidance offerings.

Activities

The project started in October 2008 and involves 13 partners from 10 EU countries during their first one and a half year of activity. They have carried out extensive research and stakeholder workshops at national level.
Research activities were focused on current training and support structures for young businesses in the participating countries and have been carried out in order to identify good practice in training and support as well as current trends and needs of SMEs/ young businesses operating in the craft and service sector. The result has been a "Final study report on national training and support structures of all countries involved in the project".
The workshops (based on the results of the researches) were carried out with the purpose to disseminate the identified good practice and to develop strategies together with national experts to establish these good practices throughout the country. Furthermore, identified current and emerging needs have been discussed in especially established working groups and solutions have been developed to cope with these. The result has been a "Summary of good practices in training and support for growing SMEs".

Who is involved / Participating institutions / Partners

The project promoter and coordinator is WIFI-IKT (Institute for Economic Promotion at the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber / International Know-How Transfer).
Furthermore, the project partnership consists of VET and guidance providers for SMEs, such as vocational training institutions, chambers of commerce and crafts and universities, on the one hand, and of SME associations and trade unions on the other hand.
The 13 partners participating in the project are:

• WIFI
• Consortium Employment and Environment
• International Centre for Promotion of Enterprises
• Edupoli
• European Management Centre
• The Centre for Development Programs EMI-ECO
• Hamburg Chamber of Skilled Crafts
• Polish Craft Association
• Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Izmir EU Business Centre Training and Consultancy Corp.
• Lahti University of Applied Sciences
• Ami-Foundation, Amiedu
• Trade Union of Adult Educators in Finland